Columns Archives - Page 2 of 263 - The Town Line Newspaper

CRITTER CHATTER: Reminiscing about volunteers at Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center – Part 1

October 30, 2024/0 Comments/in Critter Chatter/by Jayne Winters

Volunteer Amy Messier feeding a young raccoon. (File photo)

by Jayne Winters

When I stopped by Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab this week, as there were no critters awaiting transfer to other rehabbers, Don and I talked again about how smoothly things have gone since his hospitalization in May and subsequent transition to semi-retirement. Over just a few days – thanks to Inland Fisheries & Wildlife staff, volunteers, Avian Haven and other rehabbers – he was able to receive the medical care he needed and not have to worry about his furry and feathered friends.

After I got home, I looked through old files and found a couple of articles Carleen Cote had written and thought this would be a good time to share them. This one is from 2003:

“We will never forget our wonderful volunteers who have come and do all the “dirty work.” Their payment is having an opportunity to feed and play with the wildlife babies – to see animals they would probably never see in their natural habitat. Cheri Muschamp was the first volunteer. Robyn Jacques was our first intern from Unity College, followed by Josh and Jayme. Blanche Bourdeau, Carol Thibodeau, Micki Poor, Amanda Watson and Nikki Reynolds volunteered many hours to clean pens, wash dishes and feed the babies. We can never say thank you enough to these wonderful volunteers who came to help and provided us some respite and time to get a few minutes of sleep during the day. They will be returning for their third summer.

We have met many wonderful dedicated animal control officers, police, sheriffs and animal damage control people who have gone many miles out of their way to bring us young and wounded animals. We have also had the opportunity to meet and work with Maine game wardens. They have brought many needy birds and mammals to the Center. We also assist them by responding to wildlife problems when they are unable to do so.

We have met many other rehabilitators. There is an exchange of information and experiences so no one has to “re-invent the wheel” whenever anyone gets a species of bird or mammal for the first time. Help is only a phone call away, and everyone is willing to share their knowledge.

Because of the numbers of mammals we receive, we are unable to care for many bird species because of the great time demands of baby birds. We are fortunate to have Avian Haven, in Freedom. Marc and Diane take the birds we are unable to care for. We do take owls, hawks and eagles.

Trish and Gary Newcomb (founders of The Town Line) were frequent visitors to the Center. They would ask if we would write about our experiences for the newspaper. We always said we didn’t think we had the talent to write. In 1996, I went to The Town Line on business. Trish and Gary again asked if I would write articles about our Center. I finally said I would try. The rest is history – eight years later I still enjoy writing about our experiences of sharing our life with all the little creatures and all our adventures. So many people have told us how much they enjoy the articles, how much they have learned about Maine’s wildlife. That’s the inspiration that keeps me writing and sharing our joys and sorrows. You know the saying, ‘We could write a book!’ I don’t think that will happen.”

In November, I’ll continue with the stroll down Memory Lane!

Don is still busy with many phone calls and continues to provide advice and make referrals. He accepts and assesses small injured or abandoned wildlife, usually transporting them to other facilities for further treatment, care and release. Please remember to check these websites for someone close to you: https://www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html. In addition, you can contact your local Animal Control Officer through your town office. – Donald Cote operates Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a non-profit state permitted rehab facility supported by his own resources & outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. EMAIL ADDRESS IS NOT BEING MONITORED AT THIS TIME.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Are there carp in Webber Pond; affect of climate change on our lakes

October 30, 2024/0 Comments/in Scores & Outdoors/by Roland D. Hallee

Common carp

by Roland D. Hallee

Earlier this summer, in a Facebook post, I saw where someone suggested there might be carp in Webber [Pond], based on a conversation with an angler.

Carp have long been an important food fish to humans. Several species such as the various goldfish breeds and the domesticated common carp variety have been popular ornamental fishes. As a result, carp have been introduced to various locations, though with mixed results. Several species of carp are considered invasive species in the United States, and, worldwide, large sums of money are spent on carp control.

At least some species of carp are able to survive for months with practically no oxygen (for example under ice or in stagnant, scummy water) by metabolizing glycogen to form lactic acid which is then converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The ethanol diffuses into the surrounding water through the gills.

I reached out to Jason Seiders of Inland Fish and Wildlife about it and to follow up on the lab results from the spring fish kill. Here is his response:

“Maine does have carp – common carp, not the Asian carp that they deal with in the Midwest. Common carp are numerous (and invasive) in the lower Kennebec River which makes them an ever-present threat to Webber. Carp feed by stirring up sediment and they do it on a large scale. It would be very evident if carp were in Webber because you would see them feeding in near shore areas; the plumes of sediment would stand out as well as the large fish themselves. I’m not sure who said they were in Webber, but we’ve never seen nor heard of one, or seen evidence of them in the pond. I think it’s wise to keep the fishway closed when alewives are not present (we do) because that would be the most likely vector for introduction. Common carp would make an already bad water quality situation far worse!”

Speaking of water quality, here is some interesting information from Maine Lakes and Maine Public Radio on the impact of climate change on Maine’s lakes:

– The risks to the future health of our lakes in Maine and beyond are growing due to climate change.
– Warming air and water temperatures coupled with earlier ice-out are lengthening the growing season for algae and invasive aquatic plants.
– More frequent and intense storms deliver more rain over a shorter period of time, increasing stormwater runoff and worsening soil erosion that carries phosphorus and other nutrient-laden sediments into lakes.
– Periods of drought between storms can alter soil structure, making soils less stable and more likely to erode in the next big storm.
– Excess nutrients from eroding soils along with warmer water make lakes more hospitable to the explosive growth of algae, resulting in extensive algal blooms that put lake health in jeopardy.
– Some of those blooms may be classified as “harmful algal blooms” (or HAB’s) that produce toxic or harmful effects on people, pets, and wildlife.

Fortunately, there are many organizations working on climate change impacts and ways our communities can become more resilient to these changes.

Recently, Maine Public published a series on that subject, in one of the articles they reported:

“On a forested path from a seasonal camp down to Great Pond, in Belgrade, a small, but critical construction project is underway.

“A trio of workers from the Youth Conservation Corps struggled to dig a shallow trench. Once they remove the stubborn roots and rocks, it will be lined with gravel and mulch.

“The upgraded path doesn’t look like much, but looks can be deceiving, said Max Comis, a junior at the University of Maine and worker on the crew.

“‘The mulch and the rocks we’re going to put on top of this, it’s going to filter the water. We have further filtration below it, and it is going to stop the bad things from going into the water,” Comis said.

“Human-caused climate change is overheating Maine’s lakes and ponds, changing their biology and threatening their health.”

Much work still needs to be done before we can restore our lakes, as is witnessed by on-going projects in China Lake, Three-mile Pond and Webber Pond.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Boston Bruins, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk or Patrice Bergeron?

Answer

Johnny Bucyk (The Chief), scored 545 goals.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Johanna Fiedler on Arthur Fiedler

October 23, 2024/0 Comments/in Review Potpourri/by Peter Cates

Johanna Fiedler

by Peter Cates

Johanna Fiedler

In the Introduction to her 1994 memoir, Arthur Fiedler: Papa, the Pops, and Me, the late Johanna Fiedler (1944-2011) writes the following about being in New York City and watching the live CBS TV presentation of her father conducting the Boston Pops at the 1976 Bicentennial 4th of July concert at the Charles River Esplanade Shell:

“From the overhead shots taken by panning cameras on the roofs of neighboring apartment buildings, I could tell this was the largest crowd I had ever seen. People filled the Esplanade and the adjacent highway, crammed boats on the Charles River Basin, and stretched back as far as the television cameras were able to show. Later I found out that the crowd had been just as dense on the Cambridge side of the river, where the music must have been almost inaudible. The Guinness Book of Records was to list this as the largest mass of people ever to attend a classical music performance. “

Arthur Fiedler

Arthur Fiedler’s Boston Pops records sold in the millions. My earliest memories as a classical record collector in seventh grade are the 12-inch Red Seal 78s gifted to me by kind relatives and friends of Jacob Gade’s Jalousie with Manuel de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance on the reverse side; of Ponchielli’s Dance of the Hours (itself the melody for Allan Sherman’s infamous early 1960s best selling record Hello Fadda, Hello Madda/Camp Granada); a spirited late 1940s 78 set of the Offenbach/Rosenthal Gaite Parisienne Ballet with its own Can Can; and hearing on the radio the Pops own semi-classical arrangement, with sweetly graceful strings, of the Beatles’ I Want to Hold Your Hand, for me the first enjoyable rendition of one of their songs, as during junior high I detested rock music, especially the Beatles, the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley.

With 13th birthday money, I bought a 1964 Boston Pops album (RCA Victor LM-2745) simply titled Music America Loves Best, and containing spirited performances of Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Handel’s Largo, Grieg’s The Last Spring, Wagner’s Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, Johann Strauss’s Acceleration Waltz, and the Brahms’ 6th Hungarian Dance, at Al Corey’s Music Center, in Waterville.

It had a full spread cover photo of Fiedler sitting on a park bench with his baton against a green background. I played that record to death.

Fiedler seemed to be a slightly gruff but likable character and conveyed this persona in his public appearances over almost 50 years. However, like so many artists, he was a very complicated man.

In her book, Johanna writes of her father as loving, moody, fun-filled, harsh, generous, miserly, attentive, and indifferent; and of his own harrowing insecurities as his fame and wealth increased.

Examples:

She tells of her father, when she was a little girl, giving her one on one time cuddling with her while they both watched boxing matches on his bedroom TV. But when she was a teenager and dressed nicely for her parents, he’d put her down with comments such as “She looks like a French prostitute or…a piece of cheese.”

The parents constantly fought among themselves and with Johanna, while, as an adult, she was estranged from both of them for months.

Her father’s insecurities stemmed partly from the resentments of the classical music world at the success of the Pops concerts and records. And, as he grew older, he had paralyzing fears about losing his mental and physical health.

Again, Johanna writes:

“‘Poor Pierre Monteux [the conductor who founded a summer school in Hancock, Maine, for teaching conducting],’ Papa said in 1970. ‘Near the end, he could hardly get on the stand, and his legs were frozen during a concert.’ Only a year or two later, my father began having trouble with his own legs, the fate he had been predicting for himself for years. His walking and balance got so bad that he could barely lift his feet off the floor, and we had to install a stair elevator at Hyslop Road [the address of the Fiedler family home in Brookline, Massachusetts.].”

As a personal account of growing up under a famous parent, this book is highly recommended.

I recently heard a 1970s cassette anthology, American Salute, in which Fiedler and the Boston Pops do staples ranging from Aaron Copland’s Hoedown from Rodeo, William Schuman’s arrangement of the Revolutionary War hymn Chester and the title selection American Salute, by Morton Gould, to pop songs by Jimmy Webb – By the Time I Get to Phoenix and Galveston; the more traditional Down in the Valley and Deep in the Heart of Texas; TV themes from Bonanza, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel, and Gunsmoke; guitarist Chet Atkins playing Tennessee Waltz; Saint Louis Blues, etc. These were all culled from previous Boston Pops LPs and done with the consistently spirited musicianship Fiedler was justly renowned for.

Finally one Arthur Fiedler album I absolutely cherish among the many here at the house is a late 1940s RCA Victor collection of four Overtures by 19th century French composer Daniel-Francoise Auber (1782-1871).

And YouTube abounds with Fiedler recordings, the PBS Evening at Pops episodes and more.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: A Difficult Diagnosis Sparks Hope and Support for Others—Maybe You

October 23, 2024/0 Comments/in For Your Health/by Website Editor

Lisa Reed and a quarter million other Americans have pulmonary fibrosis, a serious lung disease, but early treatment can make a big difference.

(NAPSI)—In 2022, Lisa Reed was eagerly anticipating her 70th birthday. She had plans to travel to Italy and was looking forward to spending more quality time with her grandchildren. But a persistent cough, worsened by a bout of COVID-19, led her to the emergency room in her hometown of Sante Fe. There, a series of tests, including a high-resolution chest CT of her lungs, revealed something unexpected: pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Symptoms of PF, such as chronic dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath, can often be confused with other more common illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. In Reed’s case, her chest CT showed the presence of white tissue on her lungs—a characteristic sign of scarring and inflammation.

Like many others diagnosed with PF, Reed had never heard of the disease. Her internet search was startling, revealing that PF causes progressive and irreversible scarring in the lungs. It is part of a family of over 200 interstitial lung diseases (ILD) that affect more than 250,000 Americans.

Fortunately, Reed was diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. She quickly immersed herself in learning everything she could about PF. She discovered the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s (PFF) website, absorbing fact sheets, watching webinars, and exploring clinical trials and opportunities to get involved.

A friend of Reed’s who is a nurse practitioner suggested she reach out to the ILD clinic at National Jewish Hospital in Denver, a PFF Care Center Network site. She now receives care there from a multidisciplinary team of doctors including a pulmonologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, and oncologist. She began an antifibrotic treatment to slow the progression of the disease.

As Reed started her treatment, her family received more unexpected news—both of her brothers were also diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. The siblings believe their condition is familial, with each of them at different stages of the disease. One of her brothers has since undergone a double lung transplant and is doing well.

Reed firmly believes that self-advocacy is essential in getting the right care as quickly as possible. She has volunteered for clinical trials, participates in online support groups, and actively engages with the PFF. Throughout her journey, Reed has found the PFF to be a vital resource for trusted information and tremendous support.

“Whether it’s getting the right diagnosis, learning what treatments are available, or finding resources for caregivers, there are answers and support,” she said. “It’s impressive and wonderful.”

Now, Reed volunteers as a PFF Ambassador, sharing her story and helping others along their journeys. “The way to help myself is to help others,” she says.

Reed plans to attend a virtual PFF Education Symposium. She looks forward to learning about the latest research studies, how to live better with PF, and to connect with others navigating life with PF.

“Whether you’re newly diagnosed, or you’ve been living with PF for years, no one should face this journey alone,” said Reed. “There are so many ways we can help each other, both big and small. And there’s a whole community of people, resources, and support ready to help you through the PFF.”

The PFF Education Symposium is a virtual conference taking place Nov. 7-8. To learn more about PF and to register for the Symposium, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org/symposium.

FARMGIRL AT HEART: Exactly what is homesteading?

October 23, 2024/1 Comment/in Farmgirl at Heart/by Virginia Jones

by Virginia Jones

Dear Readers,

“The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.” — Abraham Lincoln.

Hello. Welcome to my first article. The statement above led me to an idea for my piece of writing. I have always wanted to homestead and am finally living my childhood dream.

So, what exactly is homesteading? Homesteading as defined by Wikipedia is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It involves home preservation of food, agriculture, making of one’s clothing, gardening, etc. It is basically choosing to live a simpler lifestyle in order to bring some sufficiency to oneself. Many times when people would move west they were told that if they could find a piece of land and raise a crop and build a life on it that they could own it after so many years.

Where exactly did the term homesteading originate? I have often read of people who, against all odds, made a life for themselves and became true heroes in the building of this nation. The term homesteading came from the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act enabled people who wanted to head West to have free land if they met certain conditions, as mentioned above.

A few more conditions were that you had to be at least 21 years old, had to build a house that was at least 12 x 14 feet in size, work the land for five years, certify that they hadn’t brought arms against the United States, and they had to have at least two neighbors or friends attest to all they had done. The Homestead Act was brought into fruition by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. It allowed people to have 160 acres for a small fee. The conditions were as mentioned with the other condition being that you had to produce a crop within the time allotted.

My love of homesteading began when I was a young girl. Every summer my family would visit my Grandma Amanda who lived in Missouri. I relished the time that we spent there. I loved hearing the coyotes howl in the night, the sounds of owls, and the music of crickets floating on the wind. In the mornings we would arise to the smells of coffee, bacon and eggs. They raised a lot of their own food and made their home a cozy place to be. I am not even sure if the house is still standing but my memories of it are still intact.

As I was growing up I used to watch one of my favorite tv shows called Little House on the Prairie. I longed for a simpler life and would have loved to have taken a journey in a covered wagon along with Laura Ingalls. It was an adventure that I would have gladly taken, although there are some things about Laura’s time that I could pass on, such as an outhouse or lack of running water.

As a wife and then a mother, my husband and I decided to homeschool our two daughters. One of the book series that we used in our learning was the Little House on the Prairie series. We also purchased the Prairie Primer to go along with the books. In the winter we would make Molasses Candy from the freshly falled snow. In summer we would do different activities in order to learn the history of the Prairie. We tried on several occasions to get a pig intestine in order to fill it with water and play kickball, but we were never successful. It was fun to sew a patchwork project with my girls or some other activity in the evenings. I miss the days of sitting on the couch reading the series to my daughters.

After my daughters were grown; one being married and the other engaged, we had an empty nest. It was time for my husband and I to start dreams of our own. When we began considering a homestead, we didn’t quite realize the investment that it would be of both finances and planning. Looking back over the three years that we have had a farm, planning a little more would have been wise; not that we didn’t plan but we could have done better. To have a plan is to look to the future. Having a thorough plan is to have wisdom for that future. I have to say though that for two people who don’t always know what their doing, we have done pretty well. To have a dream is to have a passion for what you are dreaming of and then making it a reality. Our dream of a farm is slowly and sometimes painstakingly coming to fruition.

What was our goal for having a farm and homestead? We once lived in the capitol city of Augusta, but after having lived there for several years, we finally decided to move to the country. We longed for a simpler life, a way to grow our own food and eventually be at a place where we could enjoy our older years. Three years ago we started down the farming trail with what most people start with: chickens. They often say that you will eventually understand chicken math, and that has been a very true statement. We started with about a dozen, lost a some, and then gained more. We now have about thirty chickens. Some are pellets, some juniors, and one is an older hen from our first flock. It is such a pleasure to go out in the morning and collect fresh eggs from the nesting boxes in our chicken coop. I love to rise in the morning and go out to do farm chores while the fog is lifting and the stirring of the farm animals can be heard.

Along with the chickens we are raising Saanen goats. I decided on goats because I am unable to drink cow’s milk and felt that goat’s milk is more nourishing, in my opinion. I also love the taste of goat meat. I do realize that Saanen goat milk has a low butterfat percentage so I may not be able to obtain butter or cheese but I can find some way to preserve the goat milk. For the butter and cheese I will have to buy some Nigerian Dwarfs. I am always happy to add another animal to my farm. I am not sure how excited my husband will be.

What are some of our other goals? We have a vegetable garden in order to have produce to can and we hope to grow fruit trees and bushes in order to make jams and jellies for the pantry. I hope to teach others all of the things that I have learned in order to carry the heritage of farming well into the future.

In preparing to live out your dream be sure to do your research. I read a lot of books about homesteading, raising particular animals, and being a good steward of them. I watched a lot of YouTube videos and have followed a lot of homesteaders on Instagram. Visit your library. Seek out those who are like minded. Attend workshops and lectures in order to learn more about different aspects of farming. Your local county office will have a lot of information online. They have no problem with you asking questions.

In conclusion, never be afraid to make mistakes and learn by doing. Nothing is impossible when you put your mind and effort into it. Start small but dream big. Stay focused when the tough times come; be sure that they will. Most of all however, just have fun and learn as you experience the fine art of homesteading and living a simpler life.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Canada geese make their presence known

October 23, 2024/0 Comments/in Scores & Outdoors/by Roland D. Hallee

Canada geese

by Roland D. Hallee

Sometime between 5 and 5:30 a.m., a few weeks ago, I was unceremoniously reminded the season on Canada geese had begun in Maine. It’s rather startling when you’re awakened from a sound sleep with the clapping of gun fire. For a second, I thought I was back in Vietnam. There was either a lot of hunters, or they were bad shots.

Hunters had positioned themselves in a cove just below from where our camp is located and the rapport from the shotguns sounded like it was right under our bedroom window.

The Canada goose is a wild goose which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and brownish-gray body. (For your edification, the proper name of the bird is Canada Geese, and not Canadian Geese.)

The black head and neck with the white “chinstrap” distinguishes the Canada goose from all other species of goose. They are generally 30 – 43 inches long with a 50 to 71-inch wingspan. The male usually weighs 7 – 14 pounds, and can be very aggressive in defending its territory. The female looks virtually identical to the male but only smaller, and has a different “honk.”

The species, native to North America, breeds in Canada and the northern United States in a variety of habitats. Its nest is usually located in an elevated area near water such as streams, lakes, ponds and sometimes on a beaver lodge. Its eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down.

By the early 20th century, over-hunting and loss of habitat in the late 19th century and early 20th century had resulted in a serious decline in the numbers of this bird in its native range. The Giant Canada goose subspecies was believed to be extinct in the 1950s, until, in 1962, a small flock was discovered wintering in Rochester, Minnesota. With improved game laws and habitat recreation and preservation programs, their populations have recovered in most of their range.

In recent years, Canada goose populations in some areas have grown substantially, so much so that many consider them pests (for their droppings, the bacteria in their droppings, noise and confrontational behavior). They have a tendency to attack humans when they feel themselves or their goslings to be threatened. First, the goose will stand erect, spread its wings and produce a hissing sound. Next, the goose will charge. They will either bite or attack with their wings.

The problem is partially due to the removal of natural predators and an abundance of safe, man-made bodies of water (such as golf courses, public parks and beaches, and in planned communities).

Like most geese, the Canada goose is naturally migratory with the wintering range being most of the United States. Although a migratory bird, some flocks in Canada choose not to migrate, even during the winter, if food (such as human leftovers) is constantly available throughout the season.

The calls overhead from large groups of Canada geese flying in V-shaped formation signal the transitions into spring and autumn.

By the way, should you see Canada geese flying north this time of year, it doesn’t signal early spring. Some will winter in this area, fly down the Kennebec River, looking for food, then fly back north to their nesting site.

Canada geese, Branta canadensis, are primarily herbivores, although they sometimes eat small insects and fish. Their diet includes green vegetation and grains, such as wheat, beans, rice and corn. When in the water, they feed from silt on the bottom, and aquatic plants such as seaweeds. In urban areas, they are also known to pick food out of garbage bins.

Properly prepared, the meat of Canada geese is very tasty. I had some once at a wild game dinner, and, after being awarkened in the early-morning hours by those hunters, I sure wouldn’t mind having one on my dinner plate.