SOLON & BEYOND: Hopefully, April scheduled production will still happen

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

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

Instead of all the bad news out there, I’m going to start with a wonderful message I received on our family website from my daughter in law, Sherry Rogers. “In a society that has you counting money, pounds, calories, and steps, be a rebel and count your blessings instead. (Peter started this family website several years ago, and it has made this mother very, very happy!) I hope you all like its message, Thanks, Sherry.

Received an e-mail from Diana Perkins on March 9, but hadn’t put it in until the date of the event was closer. Now I’m going to print it and hope when the time comes, it won’t have been canceled. A travelling Production Company will be giving their annual live drama presentation of Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames at the Riverside Assembly Church, 32 Water Street , Fairfield, on Sunday April 26, Monday April 27, and Tuesday April 28, at 7 p.m., show times. Free admission! For more information call (207)453-7342. All are welcome!

She ended her note with the following words, which really made my day! Dear Marilyn, I read your column religiously and enjoy all your news. I hope that this can be used in your column when the appropriate week is closer. If this cannot be used in your column, please let me know the appropriate person to contact to have this announced in our area. Thanks for all the good information that you share with readers.

The following information is from Angela Stockwell: Dear Readers, The March newsletter is ready for viewing. With the spread of coronavirus throughout the world and into Maine, the library is closed to the public until April 6. Many of the articles within the newsletter may mention event dates and deadlines which may have been postponed or canceled. Please check the MCS Library Facebook page for updates at www.Facebook.com/MargaretChaseSmithLibrary. The staff is working from home and technology will allow us to keep abreast of inquires.

Featured in the newsletter are articles about the essay contest and National History Day in Maine, the newest exhibit, our newest staff member, new leadership, as well as a visit by “Flat Stanley.” A reminder to “Save the Date” for May 22 for the annual Maine Town Meeting. As Dr. Richards reminds us in his “Directions” article, “Wash your hands and sneeze into your arm. Take care and stay well. ” Again, my thanks for that information.

And now some news from Happy Knits in Skowhegan; Dear Yarn Friends, At a time when it seems like the world out there is changing from one hour to the next, one thing we can rely on is our own connection to each other. That won’t change, even if we have to adjust our lives temporarily to keep each other safe and healthy.

From the time being, we have decided to suspend our group knitting activities (Tuesday nights and Thursday afternoons) for the sake of our patrons and staff. This is a temporary measure, and will resume as soon as we hear that it is safe to do so.

As yarn and fiber users, we all have our handwork to fall back on if we need to hunker down at home for a bit. In that way we are so much more fortunate than others. If we have to slow down our human interactions for awhile, we still can reach out to each other in other ways. Let’s keep in touch.

There is only room for a short one of Percy’s memoirs this morning. I don’t know who wrote it. It was on a small piece of paper that I had printed it on… “Old gardeners never die, they just lose their bloomers!”

GARDEN WORKS: Getting through times of change

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Elisabeth, 14, in an office in Babelsberg, Germany, in 1954. (contributed photo.)

Advice from a survivor of WWII

Emily Catesby Emily Cates

Well, folks, I was planning on writing another article in my series about good finds from seed catalogs, but with everything happening with COVID-19, I figured it would be prudent to write about something more relevant. In this new era of uncertainty and social distancing, many of us appreciate helpful information on how to get through it all.

While unprecedented to most of us in modern America, these circumstances are surprisingly similar to events experienced by those in our area nearly a century ago during the Great Depression, and also by folks who made it through World War I – World War II in Europe and beyond. In this article I will share with you a few things I gleaned from discussions I’ve had with my mother-in-law, Elisabeth, who survived World War II and lived for decades in Communist East Germany (DDR) before a dramatic opportunity in 1969 led her to Maine. While her story could fill an entire book, I’ll try to highlight the weightier points, and add a few that other family members have pointed out to me.

One of the first things she mentioned was how grocery shopping in the past week or two reminded her and family and friends back home of grocery stores in the former DDR. Many shelves now, like then, are empty as shoppers engage in panic-buying and hoarding. Back then, you had to buy something when you saw it, since you never knew when or if you’d see it again. However, she remarked how unnecessary it is for shoppers here to behave this way, since our infrastructure — unlike the DDR’s — is intact and operating.

Yes, Elisabeth thinks it’s always a good idea to be stocked-up on necessities at all times, but preferably before a crisis, so that others who have a real need are able to obtain their groceries. “You’re not going to starve to death,” she says, “since even if your food gets stolen, you can go outside to your garden and also find edible weeds. You might not get what you want, but you will find something.” I’ll take that advice, since it comes from someone who oftentimes refused to eat so that her little sister would have food.

Another point she mentioned was how useful it was to have a garden. With her thick accent, she affirms: “Plant lots of beans and peas; plant carrots, beets, and other root vegetables.” In the aftermath of World War I, in the winter of 1919-1920, many inhabitants of Continental Europe, including Elisabeth’s father, had mostly turnips to eat. Every recipe you could imagine was made with turnips, including turnip jam. Naturally, when other foods became available, few folks ever wanted to even think about a turnip again. While one could argue we’re not — yet — in the same situation here, the point is to never underestimate the power of root vegetables to sustain humankind through turbulent times. How much better, though, to have a nice variety of them, rather than just one!

As they were able to, many folks in Post-World War II Europe did what they could to get by. Those that had the room and circumstances took advantage of every opportunity to be self-sufficient, including raising chickens, scooping up horse manure from the street for the garden, and bartering. Regarding sweets (from which many of us would be hard-pressed to abstain), Elisabeth’s parents had a huge washtub in their cellar in which they boiled down sugar beets for syrup because they couldn’t obtain granulated sugar. They would have this syrup as a sweet treat once a week and for special occasions. They also raised goats for milk and meat, but on one occasion they fell in love with the baby goat, and after Oma spent hours preparing a roast of it, nobody in the family could eat it. They gave the roast to their neighbor.

The last thing that comes to mind from our conversations is the importance of a meditative space in stressful times. Oftentimes overlooked, but equally important, is the mind-healing properties of a garden. When everything around us seems to crumble, the natural world reassures us of the bigger picture. In the garden we share a place where we can be nourished, grounded, and guided. May we never lose sight of what really matters, and be there for each other no matter what comes our way.

In closing for this article, I’d like to hear your thoughts. What do you think would help us get through tough times? Please leave a comment on our website or Facebook, or email me at EmilyCates@townline.org.

Take care, be safe, and best wishes for the Springtime.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Life seems to have slowed down

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Ice free Webber Pond.

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Well, here we are. All stuck in the same place. I realize the severity of the COVID-19 coronavirus that has now taken a strangle hold on all of our normal every day lives.

But, after speaking with several other people, with the media blitz we are getting from the news, it is becoming a little much. I understand that it is suggested that we all stay in our homes, until this passes, so as to not spread the virus any more than is occurring.

Last weekend, I spent many hours in my garage, at home, while processing the maple sap I gathered during the previous week. That is always a promising time of year. The gathering of maple sap, and converting it to that sweet, homemade maple syrup, usually, in my mind anyway, marks the end of winter. At least it’s within sight. I even took the time to clean my car from the winter grime and clutter that accumulates inside the car, by what seems like mysterious ways. Where did all those receipts and cough drop wrappers come from?

The day was Saturday, and it was quite a pleasant day, save for the cold wind that would gust up from time to time. One thing I did notice was that my neighborhood, which is located in the middle of the city of Waterville, was quieter than normal. Far less vehicular traffic than in the past. No buses nor children walking home from their daily schooling. Not a sniff of diesel fuel in the air.

Oblivious of the coronavirus outbreak were the numerous birds that visited our feeders which hang from our side porch. In and out, all day long, going about their normal routine.

Squirrels scurrying about, from tree to tree, down the driveway and across the street. A never-ending process of survival. I did notice, however, that winter, and even the spring’s strong winds, had dislodged a nest from high in one of my pine trees. Do squirrels begin to build new nests, or do they bunk in together in someone else’s crib?

On Sunday, a beautiful day of sunshine without a cloud in the sky, my wife and I decided to take a Sunday drive. Something we had not done in quite some time because there was always something else to do. With our church suspending all Sunday Masses for the foreseeable future, we took advantage of the extra time to get out of the house. After all, we would be in our car, and have no physical contact with any other human beings.

We decided to do the circular drive through the towns around China Lake. Rumors had it that ice was out.

We proceeded out of Winslow and toward China on Rte. 137/202. As we approached the head of the lake, it was, “nope, ice is not out yet.” Let’s go take a look at Three Mile Pond and Togus Pond. “Eureka, ice out at both locations.” There is hope after all.

The last destination would be our lake, where we spend the summers, Webber Pond. Sure enough, ice is out on Webber Pond, except for a small portion in the east cove. Historically, that will disappear quickly as winds shift the ice.

After arriving home, we sat and discussed our little excursion of the day.

It reminded us of the “good ol’ days.” Being able to go for a Sunday drive without the problems of heavy traffic. Hardly anyone on the roads.

It almost seems like since the outbreak of this virus, life has actually slowed down.

It is interesting, though, to observe Mother Nature, at its finest, continue at its own pace, with all the wildlife going about their own routine.

The bears are awakening from their winter slumber, as are skunks, raccoons, and something I saw in the road on Sunday that I was not able to identify while driving back to Waterville along Rte. 201. Soon, we should begin to see opposum, woodchucks and other species that go into partial hibernation during the winter months.

Spring is all around us, and we anxiously await the warmer days and the time when this virus has become history and part of our memories.

Stay safe. Think about the coming of warmer weather, and the emminent all out war against black flies and ticks.

ICE OUT
DID YOU KNOW?

Ice out has been recorded on China Lake since 1874. In the 132 years between 1874 and 2005, ice went out in March on only four occasions – 1901, 1902, 1953, and 1981. In the 14 years since, March ice out has also occurred four times, 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016. Should ice go out before next Wednesday, it will mark the fifth time in 15 years.

You could make a good case for climate change.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

How did former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra get his first name?

Answer can be found here.

AARP OUTREACH: Financial planning for the future

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by Japhet Els

Three glass Ball jars were arranged on the kitchen table. From my perspective as a nine-year old, they seemed large. One jar was labeled, “College Fund.” Another, “Short-Term Savings.” And the last jar, “Long-Term Savings.” My mother was pretty straight-forward and the labels reflected her simplicity in teaching the basics of money.

“With each dollar you earn, you’ll have to put at least 25 cents into the college jar. And another 25 cents into the long-term saving jar. After that, it’s up to you.” I didn’t realize it then, but my mother was teaching me the habit of how to save money. Three jars. Three goals. Three ways to build some security for the future.

I was lucky. Not everyone is taught these lessons early on, but it’s never too late to learn.

Maine is facing a retirement savings crisis that could put us on the financial mat in the near future. One-third of Mainers 65-plus rely entirely on their Social Security check which averages just $1,100 a month. The average working Maine household has just $2,500 in retirement savings. That’s not a nest egg. It’s barely an emergency fund. Shockingly, 46 percent of all private sector workers in our state don’t have access to a retirement savings program through their workplace, often because they work for a small business that doesn’t have the time or money to shoulder that burden.

The coming wave of financial insecurity will not only stress Maine families, but important programs like Social Security and Medicare, too.

Retirement savings participation hasn’t changed much in more than 40 years. Despite education campaigns and awareness efforts, there’s been only a slight increase in the number of workers putting money away in a retirement account since the 1970s.

So what can be done? It’s not just about educating younger workers, or giving them a “kick in the pants” to do the right thing. We know what works when it comes to saving for the future. U.S. workers are 15 times more likely to save for retirement when we can do so through our own paycheck. We’re 20 times more likely to do so if that savings is automatic.

The good news is there’s a solution and it is building momentum. LD 594 is a bill currently working its way through the Maine State House. It would establish a public-private partnership allowing any Mainer not currently offered a retirement program through their workplace to start saving for their future. Here are the key parts of the bill that we think make it a “no brainer:”

  • No requirements or burdens on the small business owner including no liability and no matching requirement.
  • Smart government opens up new markets, enabling businesses to connect with underserved consumers. LD 594 would finally allow small business employees the chance to save with approved financial institutions who are currently out of reach for the typical Maine worker.
  • Portable: The employee retirement account follows the employee from job to job making it easier to save for seasonal workers and part-time workers.
  • Education: Each employee who participates will learn the value of saving for the future, even if at first the savings are small.

Helping more Mainers save for retirement is a rising tide that lifts all boats. This isn’t just a personal finance issue, it’s a state and community finance issue. Maine spent $28 million on vital social services for older Mainers in 2016. This number will only go up as more and more Mainers age with fewer and fewer dollars saved for retirement. If we can make it easier for more working Mainers to save for the future, it will mean more savings for taxpayers in the future.

The bottom line is we can either pay a little today or a lot tomorrow. We can either work on smart policy to modernize retirement savings in the nation’s oldest state, or we can point the finger at educators and parents while doing nothing to address the problem.

We (and you, dear Reader) can do something. Call and email your local state legislator and urge them to support LD 594. It’s common sense legislation for Maine workers, and common sense savings for Maine’s future.

We may be the oldest state, but we’re primed to lead the way on the most important issues facing our multi-generational communities. We owe it to those who’ve helped shape the Maine of today through hard work and grit, to continue to develop and build the Maine of tomorrow.

Japhet Els is Outreach Director for AARP Maine.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Seven Myths You May Mistakenly Believe About Long-Term Care

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Preparing for a pleasant retirement should include considering a long-term care planning solution.

(NAPSI)—As you develop your retirement plans and think about how a potential need for long-term care may impact those plans and your loved ones, certain misconceptions may prevent you from taking action.

So—let’s dispel these seven common long-term care myths:

Myth #1: I’ll never need long-term care.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 70 percent of Americans turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care in their remaining years.1

Myth #2: Government programs will cover all of my long-term care expenses.

Medicare pays for nursing home care, but only a portion of the costs for a maximum of 100 days and only if the three-day hospital stay requirement has been met. And, while Medicaid covers certain long-term care costs, it’s intended to be a safety net for those with limited or minimal income and assets. To qualify for benefits, you must spend nearly all of your savings and reduce most of your assets before the government will step in to help.

Myth #3: My family will take care of me.

The financial, physical, and emotional stress that full-time caregiving may place on families can be overwhelming. Sometimes the best way to take care of a loved one needing long-term care is to ensure they have access to professional care. With advances in home care services, many people needing long-term care are actually able to stay at home, with or near family, and still receive the professional care they need.

Myth #4: I can pay for my long-term care out-of-pocket.

In 2018, nursing home costs averaged more than $91,000 a year nationally.2 The majority of Americans would quickly deplete their retirement savings if they needed care for an extended period of time. Even if you can afford to cover long-term care services out-of-pocket, consider the benefits of sharing the risk and costs using a long-term care planning solution such as insurance.

Myth #5: I am better off waiting until I am closer to retirement to obtain long-term care coverage.

Generally, it is best to plan for long-term care in your 40s or 50s when you are younger and more likely to be healthier and insurable (underwriting is required). Also: premiums are generally lower when you are younger. Your insurability can change any time and a need for care can arise at any age, so purchasing coverage earlier can be a wise decision.

Myth #6: Long-term care coverage is just too expensive.

Long-term care coverage options have evolved to meet most any need, with some options starting at $100-$150 per month per person. Plans can be personalized to suit your budget and discounts may be available to partners and spouses. Even a small policy can help reduce the financial and emotional burden of a long-term care event and provide access to valuable benefits.

Myth #7: Long-term care policies only cover nursing homes.

Long-term care solutions may offer valuable benefits that allow you to stay in your home for as long as possible. Some even reimburse family members for providing care. Long-term care solutions can also help cover the cost of adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes as care needs evolve.

Some of these misconceptions may have prevented you or a loved one from creating a plan to address future long-term care needs. It’s important to take a step back, consider your financial plan and desired future care, and how you want to address it with you and your loved ones in mind.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: A little more cleaning

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by Debbie Walker

Hi! For a few minutes let’s make believe you can’t get any of your cleaning products. Oh, my whatever will we do? If this really happened and all you had was kitchen supplies, your home would not be without hope. Think about all those years before we had Mr. Clean and the following generations of cleaners, “the best cleaner ever” can be replaced by vinegar, baking soda, peroxide, alcohol, etc.

I have not tried all these hints and would love it if you would let me know what your “go to’s” are. I remember Mom using some of the household products when I was a child. In fact, I remember her using ammonia and bleach together to strip wax off the old vinyl flooring. That didn’t work out very well, she was quite sick. You can check any one of these hints on the computer.

Streak free window cleaner: 1-1/2 cups water, 1-1/2 tablespoons white vinegar, 1-1/2 rubbing alcohol, three drops essential oil. Pour everything into a spray bottle.

Natural air freshener: You can put a drop of your favorite scent on a cold light bulb. When it is on and heats up, ta-da, air freshener! You could soak a cotton ball in vanilla and put in potted plants throughout your home. If you are into essential oils you can use them as well.

Lightening and whitening, naturally: Soak your whites in a bucket of hot water with lemon juice for a couple of hours then hang out to dry in sunlight.

Use pillowcase to clean ceiling fan: I will be trying this one this week. Use a pillowcase. Slip the pillowcase over the blade, then wipe the dust into the pillowcase. Hopefully this will make it relatively mess-free.

Toothpaste to clean silver: toothpaste, not gel. Rub it on, rinse and let it dry. I plan to try it out on some of my jewelry. I’ll let you know my results.

Remove sticky adhesives with a little oil: Put some olive oil on a cloth and rub the adhesive off.

Clean up for hardwater stains: For shower head, faucet, etc.: Use vinegar to lift stains right off. For extra tricky like shower head, if you can’t get it off just put vinegar in a baggy and seal around shower head. Next morning rinse it off.

Just for a little change:

Did you know you can use your crock pot for a humidifier? Wish I knew this before I bought my humidifier!

I read that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain. I haven’t tried this, but I hope it works.

Did you remember to get a bottle of 91 percent alcohol and a spray bottle this winter? I used it the last winter I was up there, and it worked like a charm on ice and snow, on windows and windshield. Spay on windshield, move around the car spraying windows, side and back windows. Get to your door again, your vision should be cleared.

I’m just curious about how many of these you remembered as your read through them. Happy cleaning! Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfelloow had a gift for dramatic tension as well as a unique sense of the potential narrative possibilities in a descriptive poetic setting. An example was his 1866 poem, God’s Acre, yet another term for cemetery, and the starker words, graveyard and burial ground. I offer the poem before further comments:

I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls
The burial-ground God’s Acre! It is just;
It consecrates each grave within its walls,
And breathes a benison o’er the sleeping dust.

God’s-Acre! Yes, that blessed name imparts
Comfort to those, who in the grave have sown
The seed, that they had garnered in their hearts,
Their bread of life, alas ! no more their own.

Into its furrows shall we all be cast,
In the sure faith, that we shall rise again
At the great harvest, when the arch-angel’s blast
Shall winnow, like a fan, the chaff and grain.

Then shall the good stand in immortal bloom,
In the fair gardens of that second birth;
And each bright blossom, mingle its perfume
With that of flowers, which never bloomed on earth.

With thy rude ploughshare, Death, turn up the sod,
And spread the furrow for the seed we sow;
This is the field and Acre of our God,
This is the place, where human harvests grow!

Gottesacker was the ancient German word for God’s Acre which, as mentioned above, was the burial ground. In time, the Moravians and other groups came to see the term as a field for the sowing of flowers and such, instead of cadaver disposal, i.e. burial ground. The scriptural words, ‘from dust to dust,’ do not have to mean disposal in the cemetery septic grounds but a divine benison or blessing honoring the person that was, at least for the time being.

Longfellow was particularly effective in his use of contrasting imagery. ‘Into its furrows shall we all be cast,’ whether or not we led good lives. And we all have an expiration date and will be transferred elsewhere on that date, whether we like it or not. Yet the poet wrote a positive note; ‘In the sure faith, that we shall rise again/at the great harvest’.

But H.W.L. jolted us immediately back to reality – ‘when the arch-angel’s blast/Shall winnow, like a fan, the chaff and grain.’ The ‘winnowing fan’ is a threshing machine, not a gentle breeze.

In the last two stanzas, Longfellow sums up some eternal hope and faith for the meek and pure in heart – ‘good stand in immortal bloom…..Acre of our God…where human harvests grow.’

This is Longfellow’s gift for dramatic tension and narrative possibilities in a most splendid and truly descriptive poetic setting and the story line for the end of life’s journey .

Another highly recommended Longfellow poem is Excelsior.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide suspends service until further notice

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AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax preparation and assistance service, has announced that it will suspend tax preparation services at all sites effective Monday, March 16, until further notice. The action is due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus. The program’s website, www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide and toll-free number 1-888-227-7669, are the best resources for information and updates regarding changes in service availability.

“Tax-Aide is prioritizing the health of taxpayers, our volunteers, and the communities we serve by suspending service until further notice,” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President, AARP Foundation.

Tax-Aide will continue to assess whether some or all sites can re-open during this tax season as regularly scheduled, or during a longer tax season if it is extended.

While Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation and filing services to all taxpayers, many of its clients are over 60, a group considered by health experts at higher risk for COVID-19.

SOLON & BEYOND: Pine Tree Club holds demonstrations

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

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

It is with great pleasure that I have some recent news to share with you this morning! I would like to thank all of you who took the time to send it along to me to share, it means so much!

The Solon Pine Tree Club met at the Solon Fire Station on March 14. There were nine members, three leaders and five visitors in attendance.

Demonstrations were given by Cooper Dellarma on Reese’s Fudge, Matt Ladd and Devyn DeLeonards on Parcord Bracelets, Autumn Ladd and Katelyn DeLeonardis on Jello Pie, Lyndsey Hamilton on Taking Care of a 4- H Market Steer, Desmond Robinson on how to make a paper swan, Isabella Atwood on Banana Cream Pie, Brooks Sousa on Starting Seedlings and Jillian Robinson on Reese’s Chocolate Cookies with PB Chips.

The Solon Pine Tree Club has made $125 for the Solon Food Cupboard from the bake sale at the Solon town meeting. They have made $252 from the dinner at the Solon town meeting to benefit their 4 – H Club.

Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m., the Evergreen Campground will be hosting Trout Camp. Lunch will be provided as participants will learn fly tying, fly casting and other activities.

Somerset County Leaders are having a Luck of the Draw Auction on Saturday, May 2, located at the American Legion Hall, in Skowhegan. Tickets will be sold from 9 a.m. – noon, with tickets being drawn after noon. The club will be donating a basket.

The next meeting of the Solon Pine Tree Club will be on Saturday, April 11, at 9:30 a.m.

And now for news of another event that was held on March 7. Mary Bishop who used to live in Solon years ago, was given a 95th birthday party at the Church of Faith, in Skowhegan ,with 60 friends and family in attendance. Lief and I thank Mike and Donna for inviting us, it was a truly beautiful and loving affair to honor Mary. The Church of Faith was a beautiful place to have such an event and everyone seemed happy to honor Mary with such a happy birthday party. Mary attends that church.

I talked with Mary while we were there, and she was very happy with so many friends and family talking with her and showing their love. One of the things I learned while there was that Mary is a member of the Recycled Teen Ager’s Club which meets once a week. I think that is absolutely wonderful!

Received the following e-mail from Jennifer Herbert: “It’s that time again! They are now reserving spaces for their annual Solon Congregational Church’s Spring Yard/Craft Fair, Saturday, April 25. They are hoping that those of you who have been with them will be with them again this year, and if you have not, reserve a space with them now!

This is held at the Solon Elementary School each year so they have lots of room for everyone! Don’t wait too long to reserve a space and spread the word!

Yard Sale, Spring Craft Fair, Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Solon Elementary School. Breakfast and lunch will be available.

There will be a gym full of vendors, yard sale items, White Elephant table, crafters, jewelry, jellies, canned goods, bake sale. Hosted by Solon Congregational Church.

Received the following e-mail from Jeremy Lehan, Director of RSU #54/MSAD #54 Adult & Community Education. “As you have likely heard by now, MSAD #54 Superintendent Brent Colbry has decided to close schools for a minimum of two weeks as a proactive measure to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This closure includes Adult Education programming.”

So I need to finish this column up and start calling my friends from painting class to tell them about the closure.

And so for Percy’s memoir; “When the rush of life o’ertakes me, And my soul for quiet seeks, When my mind is full of pressures that pursue me through the week, I have a little haven Where I find my hearts content, And the quiet that surrounds me there is truly heaven sent. For we all need times of stillness; to relax and just unwind, and let go of small resentments that clutter up our minds. So, I seek the soothing quiet, to my haven, safe I trod, and alone there in the silence, I feel very close to God! (words by Jean E. Moore.)

CRITTER CHATTER: Let’s go shopping!

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by Jayne Winters

If we’re to believe the groundhog’s prediction that spring will come early this year, it seems appropriate to share a post written by the late Carleen Cote, published in May 1997. Seasons change, but often planning for the next one remains the same. I leave it to Carleen to remind readers what March is like for wildlife rehabbers:

“During the cold, snowy days of winter, gardening aficionados are known to gather around them vegetable and flower catalogs with color photos of wonderful succulent vegetables and beautiful flowers, and sit down to dream of warmer days when they can go outside and get that rich garden soil under their fingernails. This is the time of year when we gather the animal care equipment catalogs to determine what we’ll need to care for the wild critters that will begin to arrive with those wonderful warm spring days! Unlike the gardeners who know exactly what they want to plant in their gardens, we deal with the unknown: which little critters will arrive, how many will we get, what will be their ages, and what treatments will be necessary?

“We know we’ll need to stock up on milk replacers for the rodents, carnivores, and fawns. Since these milk replacers are somewhat different in composition from mothers’ milk, we have to anticipate that there might be intestinal upsets leading to diarrhea. Untreated diarrhea can lead to dehydration and even death, so we must have a supply of anti-diarrhea medication, electrolytes, and acidophilus (both paste and powder). These not only stop diarrhea, but re-establish a balance of essential fluids and beneficial bacteria in the gut so foods can be digested.

“We try to anticipate the types of injuries we might encounter and what medications we will need: antibiotics (powdered, liquid, spray, and creams), mange treatment (dips and sprays), powders and sprays for fleas, ticks, and lice; bandaging materials for wounds; and cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing solutions for cleaning pens and cages.

“For the many newborns that arrive at the rehab center, we’ll need nipples of various sizes, especially for fawns: softer ones at first, then stiffer ones for when their suckling power increases, to prevent their choking if the milk flows in too much, too fast. We prefer to use a syringe with a special nipple rather than a pet nursing bottle for all animals except fawns. So, how many syringes to order? Some years we’ve used up to 100!

“Next, we shop for the birds that will find shelter with us. On the list are meal worms, dog food, crickets, mice, all varieties of berries and other fruits, bird seed, and scratch feed.

“We can’t forget the items to protect the human caregivers: disposable rubber gloves (by the case); gloves to provide protection from bites, scratches, and raptor talons; antibacterial hand soaps; and band aids. One of our most important protectants: every two years we get pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

“The items are selected, ordered, and paid for by the end of March so that everything will be in place to care for those first little critters which arrive in spring and depend on us for care and nourishment until they are released back into the wild.”

Donald Cote operates the Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center, on Rte. 3, in Vassalboro. It is a nonprofit federal and state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. EMAIL: wildlifecarecenter@gmail.com.