SCORES & OUTDOORS: The Maine “gentle giant”

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Maine Coon Cat

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Recently, my daughter and one of my granddaughters have expressed an interest in bringing home a Maine coon cat. I’ve heard a lot about coon cats, but what makes them so different, and their size.

The Maine Coon is a large domesticated cat breed. One of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the breed originated in the U.S. state of Maine, where it is the official state cat.

The Maine Coon is commonly referred to as “the gentle giant.” The Maine Coon is predominantly known for its size and dense coat of fur which helps it survive in the harsh climate of Maine. The Maine Coon is often cited as having the characteristics of a dog.

The Maine Coon has a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback, in 2023 the Maine Coon overtook the Exotic, becoming the second most popular pedigree cat breed in the world.

However, their lineage is surrounded by mystery, folk tales, and myths. One myth claims the Maine Coon cat is a hybrid with another animal species, such as the raccoon or bobcat. The second myth states the cats are descendants of Viking ship’s cats, known today as the Norwegian Forest cats. A third story involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who was executed in 1793. The story goes that before her death, Antoinette attempted to escape France with the help of Captain Samuel Clough. She loaded Clough’s ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite Turkish Angora or possibly Siberian cats. Although she did not make it to the United States, all of her pets managed to reach the shore of Wiscasset, safely, where they bred with other short-haired breeds and developed into the modern breed.

These myths and theories have long speculated that the long-haired Maine Coon cat has to be related to other long-haired breeds, due to their similarities in the observable characteristics or traits in an individual based on the expression of their genes. For the Maine Coon in particular, that it is descended from the Norwegian or Siberian Forest cat, brought to New England by settlers or Vikings. Studies showed the Maine Coon belongs to the Western European cat branch, but forms the closest relationship with the random-bred cat population in the Northeastern U.S. (New York region). This Western European branch contains the Norwegian and Siberian Forest cat.

Maine Coons are descendants of cats brought to New England by Puritan settlers in the 1600-1700s.

The first mention of Maine Coon cats in a literary work was in 1861, in Frances Simpson’s The Book of the Cat (1903). F.R. Pierce, who owned several Maine Coons, wrote a chapter about the breed. During the late 1860s, farmers located in Maine told stories about their cats and held the “Maine State Champion Coon Cat” contest at the Skowhegan State Fair.

In the early 20th century, the Maine Coon’s popularity began to decline with the introduction of other long-haired breeds, such as the Persian, which originated in the Middle East. The last recorded win by a Maine Coon in a national cat show for over 40 years was in 1911 at a show in Portland, Oregon. The breed was rarely seen after that. The decline was so severe the breed was declared extinct in the 1950s, although this declaration was considered to be exaggerated and reported prematurely at the time.

Maine Coons have several physical adaptations for survival in harsh winter climates. Their dense water-resistant fur is longer and shaggier on their underside and rear for extra protection when they are walking or sitting on top of wet surfaces of snow or ice. Their long and bushy raccoon-like tail is resistant to sinking in snow, and can be curled around their face and shoulders for warmth and protection from wind and blowing snow. It can even be curled around their backside like an insulated seat cushion when sitting down on a frozen surface.

Large paws help with walking on snow and are often compared to snowshoes. Long tufts of fur growing between their toes help keep the toes warm and further aid walking on snow by giving the paws additional structure without significant extra weight. Heavily furred ears with extra long tufts of fur growing from inside can keep warm more easily.

Maine Coons can have any colors that other cats have. Colors indicating crossbreeding.

In 2010, the Guinness World Records accepted a male purebred Maine Coon named “Stewie” as the “Longest Cat”, measuring 48.5 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Stewie died on February 4, 2013, from cancer at his home in Reno, Nevada, at age 8.

The median life expectancy of a Maine Coon is 12.5 years.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

What is the Philadelphia Eagles record in the Super Bowl?

Answer
1-3: Losses to Oakland, New England and Kansas City. Sole win was over New England.

THE BEST VIEW: Confessions of a Hockey Mom

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by Norma Best Boucher

I remember the day; I remember the hour; I even remember the skipped heartbeat when I first heard my six-year-old son Alan’s words: “I want to be a hockey player.”

Translation – You can be my hockey mom.

* * * * * *

“I have to teach him to skate?” I asked my husband. “You’re the athlete in the family—you teach him to skate.”

“You teach him to skate,” he said, “and I’ll teach him to play hockey.”

“Why me? Remember, I’m the one who took dancing lessons because I was so clumsy and at age five sat on my thumb and broke it and couldn’t be in the recital.”

“So?” he answered. “You were a cheerleader.”

“But I only did that to get into the games for free.”

“Skating is great exercise,” he added.

“This was my last rational plea. “But I’m Mrs. Couch Potato!”

Smiling, he answered, “I rest my case.”

* * * * * *

“My, God, he skates just like you.”

I had warned him, right? Hadn’t I warned him?

One year of intensive training, a frostbitten nose, frostbitten toes, a thousand miles on the car and another five thousand miles on my ice skates, not to mention the wear and tear on my body and all he could say was, “My, God, he skates just like you.”

What did I learn from this experience? I learned two things: one, once a couch potato always a couch potato and two, when you sit on your thumb at age five, it takes only six weeks to heal, but when you sit on our thumb at age 30, it takes six months to heal.

* * * * * *

“Hey, Mom, I’m on a hockey team. I’m number 6.”

Translation – He can now skate up and down the ice using a cutoff $20 hockey stick as a lethal weapon, and he can now legally crush against the boards any player who dares to touch that puck.

As the weeks went by, I learned hockey lingo.

Faceoff – This is when ten players line up with sticks to kill the puck to win or to kill each other – if they lose.

Off-sides – Technically this means a player went over his own blue line before the puck. The result is a face-off in front of his team’s goalie. Realistically this means if your son does this more than once or if a goal is scored, the mother of your team’s goalie will attack you because you are sitting closer to her than your son.

Checking – This is the legal crushing of bodies against the boards.

Charging – This is checking with the intent to kill but failing.

Major Penalty—This is checking with the intent to kill and succeeding.

“Get His Number!” – This is yelled by the mother of the player who was charged and still lives for revenge.

Burn – This is when a forward from one team skates past the defensemen of the other team and scores a goal. All the mothers then yell, “Get his number!” and the entire opposing team charges after the scorer.

(Note: If this player is your son, this is not a pretty picture.)

* * * * * *

“Hey, Mom, we’re going to play in a Squirt Tournament.”

Translation – I can now watch my seven-year-old kill or be killed in an arena with hundreds of frenzied mothers screaming, “Get his number!”

* * * * * *

Our team skated out. The nine-year-olds who could skate forward, backward and stop were line one, the Midgets. The eight-year-olds who could only skate forward and stop were line two, the Pipsqueaks. The seven-year-olds who could neither skate backward nor stop were line three, the Smurfs.

Not being able to skate backward was only a minor problem. The Smurfs just skated forward all the time. Not being able to stop was another story. Most hockey players do the snowplow where they stop sharply, turning their skates to the left or right and spraying a little loose, scraped ice to the side. Unable to do the snowplow, the Smurfs had developed a variety of methods for stopping. Some players dragged the toe of one skate; some skated into the boards; some skated into other players; and others did a pirouette-like whirl where they turned around on their toes in one spot.

The warmup started. Everyone was excited. Even I, who’d had nightmares about sending my lamb to the slaughter, was excited.

That was before I saw the opposing team’s players.

That’s our Rambo line,” volunteered the woman next to me. They’re our seven-year-olds.”

Just then five Rambo line players raced across the arena and snowplowed ice up onto the Plexiglas in front of us. At that precise moment I knew we were in trouble.

“Here comes our Commando line. They’re our eight-year-olds.”

Each of the Commando line players lined up on their blue line and took slap shots, one after another. Each puck sped past their goalie and into the net.

I wanted to stand up and yell “Help!” but all I could do was stare.

“And here are our nine-year-olds. We call them the Terminators.”

Dare I look?

In a gust of wind five giants skated past us. The top of my son’s helmet reached only to their shoulders.

Our goalie’s mother jumped up and screamed hysterically, “My, God, he shaves,” but all I could do was slouch in my seat, mumble incoherently, and pray, “Let Alan live, God, just let him live.”

“Which kid is yours?” the woman asked.

Alan’s over there, number 6. He plays center.”

“The one with the toothy grin and dimples?”

“Yes.”

“A shrimp, huh?”

“No, Smurf.”

“That’s my kid over there. Hey, Butch!” she yelled. “He’s the number one Terminator, the captain.”

As she said this, Attila the Hun with five o’clock shadow skated by and smiled.

“What happened to his front teeth?” I asked.

“Lost them in the last game.”

I stared in horror.

“You should have seen the other guy,” she boasted.

“Not my son, God, please, not mine.”

Throughout the game our coach played the Midget and Pipsqueak lines as much as possible. Everyone said he played them to keep the score at a respectable 15-0. Personally, I think he played them to keep the Smurfs alive, and I was grateful.

During the game Mrs. Terminator, as I had begun to call her, gave me a synopsis of her team’s successes.

“We’re undefeated, you know.”

Somehow that didn’t surprise me.

“In fact, no team has ever scored one goal against us.”

Somehow that fact didn’t surprise me either.

“Butch is the top scorer. If he scores one more goal in this game, he’ll have a triple hat trick, nine goals in the same game, and that will be a team record.”

She was praying for records, and I was praying for lives.

“You know, you get what you pay for,” she offered.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I mean, I paid $250 for my kid to play on this team. They practice Monday through Friday and play games on Saturday and Sunday.

“I only paid $75 for Alan to play.”

“Ha!” she laughed. You wasted your money. Looks as if you paid $75 for a seat on the bench.”

She was definitely beginning to annoy me.

Just then one of the Pipsqueaks changed up lines, but the door was closed. In an attempt to get off the ice, he tried to put his leg over the boards. Unsuccessfully, I might add. Butch skated by, and with a motion of his hand he flipped the Pipsqueak over the boards and onto his head.

The rest, as they say, is history. That Pipsqueak was followed by other Pipsqueaks, and they were followed by Midgets. Relentlessly, Butch skated our players into exhaustion, into fear, and just plain into the boards.

“I told you,” Mrs. Terminator repeated. “Two hundred fifty dollars makes a winner.”

Suddenly, my heart was in my throat. The Smurfs were going out. There were five little cherub-faced seven-year-olds carrying $20 hockey sticks cut in half to reach their chins. Some skated into the boards; some skated into each other, one dragged a toe; and all pirouetted from blue line to blue line.

“This is a three-ring circus,” Mrs. Terminator laughed. “It’s worth my $250 just to see this.”

Right then I was beginning to imagine what she’d look like without her front teeth.

Butch had two minutes left to score his triple hat trick goal, and he was determined to succeed. The Smurfs gave up chasing and lined up for the attack. The next 30 seconds, a scene from a Marx Brothers movie, were the longest 30 seconds of my life.

Butch skated around his cage with the puck and headed straight for our zone. The only obstacle blocking his way was Alan. I covered my face, and that’s when I heard the hit.

I peered through my fingers, and there was my Smurf literally plastered chest-to-chest with Butch. Alan lost his grip and slid to grab Butch’s waist – and Butch skated on. Holding on for dear life, Alan then slipped down to Butch’s legs – and Butch skated on. Suddenly, Alan lost his grip and with stick and body flat on the ice he hooked butch’s skate with the curve of his cutoff $20 hockey stick – and Butch still skated on, dragging Alan and his stick behind him.

Everyone just watched. This was going to be the record-breaking hat trick goal and another shut out for the Terminators.

Butch wound up, and the shot echoed in the silence. The puck headed straight for the left-hand bottom corner of the cage. But wait! The puck hit the pipe, and the ringing shook the crowd.

The puck then deflected off Alan’s stick and shot into open ice. Smurf defenseman number 14 was doing a pirouette on the blue line, and with pinball precision he accidently slapped the puck into the opposing team’s zone and toward their net. The goalie dropped to his knees – going, going and through his legs – Score!

No triple hat trick goal and a score against the shutout champs.

Our entire bench jumped on Smurf number 14 in ecstasy. Butch jumped on Alan in rage.

At that point everything went black for me. The next thing I remember was Butch in the home penalty box, a two-minute penalty for roughing. Through his face mask I saw his glaring eyes and clenched toothless jaw.

Alan was in the guest penalty box, a two-minute penalty for holding. Through his face mask I saw his dimples and toothy grin.

My Smurf was now a full-fledged hockey player. He had scored his first assist, gotten his first penalty, and was still alive to brag about it.

Mrs. Terminator was on her feet shaking a clenched fist, “Hey, Ref,” she screamed. “I didn’t pay $250 for my kid to sit the bench.”

I just smiled.

At this point, Mrs. Terminator saw me and yelled, “What are you grinning about, Lady? Your kid’s on the bench, too.”

I turned to face her, eye to eye, hockey mom to hockey mom.

“I know,” I quipped smartly, “but I only had to pay 75 bucks for my kid’s seat.”

(I had the privilege of watching these seven-year-old Smurf hockey players grow up and win the Maine 1991 Class A State Hockey Championship. Also, the editor of The Town Line, Roland Hallee, was the assistant coach of that team.)

AARP NEWS YOU CAN USE: AARP offers free tax assistance for seniors

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by Joyce Bucciantini

February is one of the most beautiful times in Maine. Gone are the super short days of early winter, leaving us with more daylight to enjoy the great outdoors in Maine. Many cities and towns have winter-themed celebrations which might include snow sports, ice fishing, or maybe an opportunity for hot cocoa. These are great ways to fight off cabin fever and reconnect with our neighbors and friends. For those who enjoy warmer activities, there is always excitement to be found at the state high school basketball tournaments during the February school vacation week.

In between enjoying the bright winter weather and fresh air, we must also keep in mind a yearly task that we all must do, but few enjoy: get our taxes done! Yes, as surely as the new year moves forward, it is important to start making a plan for gathering our financial information and completing our tax forms. However, there is good news! The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program offers free tax preparation services in 47 locations in Maine. Last year, 240 Tax-Aide volunteers filed 13,671 Federal returns helping Maine taxpayers receive $10.4 million in Federal refunds. They also filed thousands of state tax returns, all at no cost!

This remarkable program offers free tax preparation services, focusing on taxpayers who are over 50 years old and have low to moderate incomes. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered by AARP Foundation in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service. All Tax-Aide volunteer counselors are IRS-trained and certified to prepare and file most types of federal and state tax returns for Maine taxpayers.

The online Tax-Aide Site Locator tool will help you find the Tax-Aide location nearest to you. This website provides the locations, the operating schedules and who to contact for making tax preparation appointments. Visit https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations/ or call 1-888-227-7669 for more information.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide appointments fill up fast. It is a good idea to make your appointment early in the tax season. Then you can rest easy and enjoy all that the great Maine outdoors has to offer, or for indoors fun, check out an AARP Maine coffee social near you. Perhaps I’ll see you there!

Joyce Bucciantini is a retired middle school educator. She currently coordinates Delta Kappa Gamma’s Read to Me program, is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin, and is an active AARP Maine volunteer. In her spare time, she enjoys her gardens, being outdoors and traveling.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Understanding Thyroid Health

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Once properly diagnosed, thyroid disease can be treated in many ways.

(NAPSI)—An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.1 During January, recognized as Thyroid Awareness Month, YARAL Pharma is raising awareness of thyroid disease, particularly hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Despite its prevalence, thyroid disease remains widely misunderstood, with many people unaware of its signs and symptoms.

The Role of the Thyroid

The thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, and overall hormonal balance. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid nodules can significantly impact health and quality of life. However, up to 60% of individuals with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition, often due to a lack of awareness about the signs and symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.1

Signs and Symptoms

Thyroid disorders can manifest in various ways, including fatigue, weight changes, mood fluctuations, and cognitive difficulties. These symptoms often resemble common day-to-day ailments, making them easy to overlook. As a result, many patients live with thyroid conditions for years before seeking treatment.
What Can Be Done

Treatment for thyroid disease varies depending on the type and severity of the condition, as well as the patient’s age and overall health. Some common treatments include:2

• Antithyroid drugs: These medications stop the thyroid from producing hormones.
• Radioactive iodine therapy: A widely used and effective treatment involving the oral intake of radioactive iodine. Most patients who undergo this therapy eventually develop hypothyroidism.
• Beta-blockers: These medications don’t affect the thyroid but can help manage symptoms such as rapid heart rate, tremors, and nervousness.
• Surgery: In rare cases, a healthcare provider may recommend surgically removing the thyroid. Patients undergoing this procedure will need to take synthetic thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of their life.
• Thyroid hormone replacement: For hypothyroidism, patients typically take a daily dose of synthetic thyroxine (T4), a hormone that replaces what their thyroid can no longer produce.

Take Control of Your Thyroid Health

If you’re experiencing symptoms of thyroid disease or have concerns about your thyroid health, don’t wait—talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about diagnosis and treatment options.

References

1. American Thyroid Association. Press Room. https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/press-room/. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
2. Cleveland Clinic. Thyroid Disease. Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8541-thyroid-disease. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
Sponsored by YARAL Pharma, Inc.

FARMGIRL AT HEART: Winter sowing in Maine

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by Virginia Jones

Maine is one of those states that seems to keep winter close at hand. We have a very long cold season with short warmer seasons following. It seems like winter could last forever. Even though we have longer seasons of frigid weather that doesn’t mean that we have to discontinue our gardening until the warmer temperatures come our way.

Last Winter I discovered a type of gardening called Winter Sowing. I happened to be scrolling through some YouTube videos and something came up about this type of gardening. I found it to be an interesting way to jump start my desire to get some seeds into the soil in the middle of the cold and frigid weather. You can do winter sowing from December thru January, and even possibly into February and March.

I have always enjoyed getting out in the garden, although this past year, my garden got away from me. That doesn’t mean that I won’t try again to conquer the weeds and have some healthy and amazing produce throughout the year.
I don’t really have the funds or the space to set up a greenhouse indoors so this was the perfect solution for getting some plants started to germination. It takes items that we all pretty use every day.

To get started, you need to collect a few items: one gallon water jug or clean one gallon milk jug, duct tape, box cutter, oointed tool for poking holes, waterproof magic marker, compost or seed starter, seeds (heirloom, self-sowing, hardy and frost tolerant varieties), spray bottle filled with water.

The first step, after having washed each jug, is to poke several holes in the bottom of each jug in order to have drainage. After having done that, you then need to take your box cutter and cut around the jug leaving a two-inch hinge for opening and closing. Fill each jug with an ample amount of soil mix, bringing it almost to the rim of the bottom of your jug. You then need to plant your seeds; there should be the number of seeds as stated on the package for the alloted space. It is important to choose seeds that need to be stagnated over the winter or ones that require a cooler temperature to bring them to germination. Taking your water bottle, spritz the soil several times until moist but not soaking wet.

You now can close your water jug and tape around the jug sealing it closed. This will allow the moisture to collect and keep your seeds moist for growth. Label each jug with the seed names that you have planted inside. It is a good idea to just have one variety of seed per jug. * Be sure to keep the cap on the jug until seeds have germinated and grown several inches, then remove cap in order to have some air flow.

You can now place your jugs in a place where they will receive ample sunlight, yet be free from wind and heavy snowfall. They should be on a level surface as well. All that is left is to observe the magic of germination.

If you have any questions or comments, you can email me at acupfullofcountry@gmail.com or find me on Instagram @farmgirl2heart.

CRITTER CHATTER: Reminiscing – Part 4

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by Jayne Winters

As noted in recent columns, I’ll be sharing some of Carleen Cote’s past articles because Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center isn’t accepting any wildlife or phone inquiries right now. What follows is a story entitled, Labor of Love, from August 3, 2002:

“This week’s Critter Chatter is not about the Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center and its current population, nor is it about the time and efforts my husband, Donald, and I invest in caring for the babies that arrive at the Center for a second chance at life. It is about the students at Windsor Elementary School who care enough about the wildlife to put their own time and effort into raising money to help buy food and other supplies for our young boarders.

Last fall, teacher Sheila Ready called to ask if her students could come for a tour of the Center. She told me that perhaps another fundraiser for the Center would be undertaken by the students and she thought seeing the animals would give the students a perspective of what we do and the animals we care for – and how the money they raised would be used. The class arrived and, to their credit, the students were well-behaved and appeared to enjoy their tour.

In June, I received a call from Sheila telling me she had a very special surprise – and did I want her to mail it to me or could I come to the school and accept the gift. I decided to go to the school (taking along some of the young critters to show) and talk about the animals and our work at the Center. I took a baby raccoon and a flying squirrel. The children listened attentively and asked many good questions. They then very proudly and excitedly presented me with a check for $374.

The students raised this in one week. Sheila’s students used computer technology to make posters and covers for the donation cans. They spoke to classes to tell students why the money was being collected and about their tour of our Center and the wildlife they saw. They also studied eco-systems, nature and safety with wildlife – stressing never to touch any wild animal they might encounter. In math class, real money is used to learn counting – and that was donated. The donations came from many sources – from students’ allowances or, perhaps, tooth fairy money and, of course, parents also donated.

The class that raised the most money was treated to ice cream floats. This year, Mrs. Stanley’s and Mrs. Beasley’s tied for first place.

Great job, students! Your thoughtfulness, generosity and hard work is very much appreciated. The money you raised will buy lots of food for all the little animals and birds here at the Center. We cannot thank you enough for remembering us and wanting to help support the wildlife.”

Wildlife rehab facilities are typically non-profits that primarily depend on personal resources and outside donations. For any students who would like to help riase funds for such an important cause, please be advised that Duck Pond has been working with Wilderness Miracles Rehab, in Bowdoin, (Kathi at 207-720-0074), Misfits Rehab, in Auburn (Jen at 207-212-1039), Bridget Green, in Wiscasset (207-631-0874), Critterville Wildlife, in Brooklin (845-549-2407), and Saco River Wildlife (207-702-1405). Pam Meier at Mid-coast Maine is a turtle rehabber and can be reached at The Turtle’s Back (203-903-2708). Please check these websites for a rehabber 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. – PHONE MESSAGES & EMAILS ARE NOT BEING MONITORED AT THIS TIME.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: It’s later than you think

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Woodrow Charles

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Oh, my goodness!

Sunday is Groundhog Day. My, how times flies.

For starters, I have to find out where my friend Woodrow Charles is hanging out these days. Last year, he had moved to less than flattering surroundings. A quick email will tell me where he is.

I hope it doesn’t take too long for him to respond. I only have three days to find him, do an interview and write the story.

Wow! There he is.

He’s back in his old digs.

So, let’s trek out that way, in Center Vassalboro, and visit with the little fella.

The walk out to his place from Rte. 32, is rather easy. No snow on the ground, and very little ice to deal with. It takes about 20 minutes to get there. The familiar smoke is emanating from the chimney, and there are lights on inside.

A knock on the door and Woody answers.

“Come on in, buddy. Have a seat while a get us some tea,” says Woody. “Nice weather we’ve been having.”

I agreed, as usual, as he begins with the small talk. He knows darn well why I’m here.

“So, how did you end up back here?” I inquire.

“Well, the other tenant didn’t work out, I would say, ” as Woody answers. “Didn’t pay the utilities, heat, or other expenses, and the pipes froze. Was quite a mess from what I hear.”

That’s too bad.

“Not only that, but besides shutting off the utilities, because the guy didn’t pay the rent, the bank threatened to foreclose,” Woody added. “I guess the old guy figured he was never going to find another tenant like me.”

“I see everything is back to normal,” I said. “You’ve got your TV back, internet, Wi-fi, and every other conveniences.”

“Just in time,”said Woody. “With the Super Bowl and all next Sunday.”

“Any prediction this year?” I prodded.

“Well, the early betting has Kansas City as a slight 1.5-points favorite. A little surprising I would say. The Vegas over-under is 49.5.”

“How much are you betting?” I asked.

“Ooohhh, no! Woody retorted. “I’m not laying down hard earned money on such slim odds. And I’m not giving points. You could lose your fur.”

“Come on, you’ve never hesitated in the past,” I replied. “How about your buddies Frank, Slim and Butch?”

“Are you kidding, they lose their fur every year. I wouldn’t bet the stump based on their prediction,” Woody lamented.

“Well, just a wild guess,” I pressured.

“OK, I’ll go with Philadelphia by three,” Woody finally caved.

“Now, how about the rest of the winter? I asked.

“Oh, that again.You must think I have a crystal ball or something,” he answered.

“Come on, I’m running out of time,” I darted back.

“OK, I can wrap this up with one sentence. This winter, in Maine, is expected to be milder, with warmer temperatures and slightly less snow. You can look for an early spring.”

Education

For those of you who didn’t figure it out, last week’s mention about the mayor of Philadelphia, and the person at the TD Garden, both misspelled their message.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

What is the highest scoring Super Bowl in history?

Answer
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers, 49-26, in Super Bowl XXIX, on January 29, 1995.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Updated Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations Will Help Save Lives

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Karyne Jones

Karyne Jones says it’s a good thing the CDC now recommends that everyone over 50 get a pneumococcal vaccine.

(NAPSI)—Good news for those Americans over the age of 50 (and the people who care about them): You now have access to vaccines to stop the spread of pneumococcal disease, or pneumonia.

The change comes by way of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which updated its recommendation for pneumococcal vaccines, dropping the age to 50 from 65.

My Story

I know the importance of being vaccinated against this disease far too well.

In January 2018, I thought I had a bad cold. I was dealing with a terrible cough, chest pain, exhaustion. When I finally ended up in the hospital needing breathing treatments, we realized this was beyond a normal cold or bronchial infection. Pneumonia took me out for the next six weeks. I couldn’t work, I could barely eat or drink. I’m an otherwise healthy, on-the-go person. This disease leveled me. And because I was 64 at the time I caught it—I hadn’t yet been vaccinated. Make no mistake, I had my sleeve rolled up and was ready for my shot when my birthday rolled around later that year.

Too Many Stories

I’m far from the only person who has dealt with pneumococcal disease.

Roughly 150,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year with pneumococcal pneumonia and 1 in 20 of those patients die. The risk is greater for older Americans, as is the risk of their cases being fatal.

Pneumonia is a Particular Problem For Persons of Color

These numbers only increase for racial and ethnic minorities. Black people are more likely to get pneumonia, be hospitalized longer, and suffer worse economic impact than non-Blacks. This is in part due to the fact that Black Americans have far greater rates of chronic diseases—including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. African Americans are 60 percent more likely to develop diabetes than white adults.

Vaccination rates are also considerably lower for Black, Hispanic and Asian adults when compared to white adults.
I’m hopeful that streamlining timing of vaccines and the related recommendations will help boost vaccination rates. For far too many adults, there is considerable confusion about what vaccines you need and when, so adding pneumococcal at age 50, when most people know you also need your shingles vaccine is a good way to get more people protected.

An Answer

That is why my organization joined forces with other aging and patient groups to advocate for this important change.
As we are in the midst of another respiratory season, I urge all adults aged 50 and older to talk to their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.

It could be a decision that saves your life.

Learn More

For more facts, visit www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal.

  • Ms. Jones is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Composer: Gustav Mahler; Author: William Saroyan

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler

German composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) suffered three major traumas the summer of 1907 – His oldest daughter Maria died from diptheria.

After a brilliant few years as music director of the Vienna Court Opera, Mahler was forced out by a combination of systemic anti-Semitism and sleazy underhandedness.
Finally he was diagnosed with angina and given at best two to four years to live .

In a letter to his good friend Bruno Walter, Mahler wrote:

“With one stroke, I have lost everything I have gained in terms of who I thought I was and have to learn my first steps again like a newborn. ”

In 1908, the composer began work on Das Lied von der Erde, translated as Song of the Earth and based on ancient Chinese poetry. It is a song cycle of six movements scored for tenor, contralto (or baritone), and orchestra and, along with the Ninth and unfinished Tenth Symphonies, was not performed until after Mahler’s death.

The poems from which the composer drew inspiration speak of the transience and superficiality of life in this world, of its temporary joys and sorrows and of fate, with such titles as Drinking Song of Earth’s Misery; Lonely One in Autumn; Of Youth; Of Beauty; Drunken Man; and Fate, topics already preoccupying his mind with the cardiac Damocles sword hanging by a thread.

The Symphonies and Song Cycles all evoke the constant clash between Mahler’s intensely spiritual side – his ongoing desire to experience peace and create his music; and his bitter, angry, at times vitriolic personality in dealing with a world that made it impossible to experience that peace because of all its bombast and violence. In short, Gustav Mahler was a manic/depressive.

In his liner notes for a 78 set of Das Lied, Nicholas Slonimsky (1894-1995) pinpointed a certain duality in this musical worldview and then recounted the circumstances of this piece’s composition:

“Although Mahler invariably denied that his symphonies had a program or story behind them, each work was a chapter in his struggle with himself, or, as he believed, with some mystical evil force.

“Bruno Walter [1876-1962], his friend and interpreter, tells us a strange story which seems to have come from out of Edgar Allan Poe:

‘While at work in his cottage in Toblach [a summer lakeside retreat in Italy], he was suddenly frightened by an indefinable noise. All at once something terribly dark came rushing in by the window, and, when he jumped up in horror, he saw that he was in the presence of an eagle which filled the little room with its violence. The fearsome meeting was quickly over, and the eagle disappeared as stormily as it had come. When Mahler sat down, exhausted by his fright, a crow came fluttering from under the sofa and flew out. ‘

“Walter thinks that this episode happened at the time Mahler was composing Das Lied, and that Mahler referred to the work as a Symphony in songs:

‘It was to have been his Ninth. Subsequently, however, he changed his mind. He thought of Beethoven and Bruckner, whose Ninth had marked the ultimate of their creation and life, and did not care to challenge fate. He turned to the last movement of Das Lied, it also being the longest, and said to me, “What do you think of it? Will not people do away with themselves when they hear it?” ‘ ”

As mentioned earlier, Mahler managed to complete the Ninth Symphony and a completed movement and sketches for a Tenth Symphony. On May 18, 1911, he died from a combination of pneumonia and other ailments. Six months and 12 days later on November 30, Bruno Walter conducted the world premiere in Munich.

On May 24, 1936, Walter led the Vienna Philharmonic in a live performance which was recorded and released on Columbia Masterworks (MM-300, seven 12-inch 78s) with contralto Kerstin Thorborg and tenor Charles Kullman; the Maestro would record it again with the VPO in 1947 and with the New York Philharmonic in 1960. Each of them is very good.

The work has generated many other recordings of distinction. My first exposure to this extraordinary music came via a 1967 recording on the Decca/London label, yet again with the Vienna Philharmonic but this time conducted by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) with tenor James King and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and a performance brimming with eloquence on a sublime level.

It and other performances can be heard on YouTube.

Bernstein also left very persuasive recordings of the ten Symphonies and the Songs of a Wayfarer and Kindertotenlieder Cycles. Interestingly he declared Das Lied von der Erde “Mahler’s greatest Symphony.”

William Saroyan

William Saroyan

A 1943 novel, The Human Comedy, by the Armenian/American writer William Saroyan (1908-1981), opens with a joyously colorful scene through the mind of a little boy:

“The little boy named Ulysses Macauley one day stood over the new gopher hole in the backyard of his house on Santa Clara Avenue, in Ithaca, California. The gopher of this hole pushed up fresh moist dirt and peeked out at the boy, who was certainly a stranger but perhaps not an enemy. Before this miracle had been fully enjoyed by the boy, one of the birds of Ithaca flew into the old walnut tree in the backyard and after settling itself on a branch broke into rapture, moving the boy’s fascination from the earth to the tree.

Next, best of all, a freight train puffed and roared far away. The boy listened, and felt the earth beneath him tremble with the moving of the train. Then he broke into running, moving (it seemed to him) swifter than any life in the world.”
Saroyan once gave the following advice to a young writer “to learn to breathe deeply,…to taste food when you eat…when you sleep really to sleep…to be wholly alive with all your might.”

In 1939, Saroyan collaborated with a younger cousin Ross Bagdasarian (1919-1972) in transforming an Armenian folk song into Rosemary Clooney’s 1951 megahit record Come On A My House.

Bagdasarian would achieve his own fame as David Seville, the creator of TV’s Alvin and the Chipmunks.

SMALL SPACE GARDENING: Maximize seed starting with a seed starting chart

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Seedlings

by Melinda Myers

Now is the time when many of us are busy ordering seeds. We often end up with many seeds, some new ones we needed or wanted and perhaps a few duplicates of those we have left from past seasons. It is easy to overlook some of these as the indoor and outdoor planting season begins.

Save money by inventorying your current seed collection, reducing the risk of ordering seeds you don’t need. Decide what seeds you want to keep and grow this season and those you want to pass along to or swap with gardening friends. You may choose to make seed art with older or improperly stored seeds and invest in fresh seeds that are sure to germinate.

If in doubt, check the seed viability of older stored seeds with a simple germination test. Wrap ten seeds in a damp paper towel and place them inside a plastic bag. Check the seeds in a week or so to see how many sprout. If all the seeds sprout, follow the planting guidelines on the seed packets. When only half the seeds sprout, you will need to plant the seeds twice as thick and so on.

Check catalogs and your favorite garden center for any seeds you need to purchase. Place your order early for the best selection.

Once the seeds arrive, look at the back of the packet to determine when to start the seeds indoors or out. Many seed companies now provide this information on their website instead of the seed packet. Check with your local University Extension website for recommended planting dates in your area.

Record the start date on your calendar, garden chart, or spreadsheet to make the process easier. Consider organizing your seeds to make it easier to find and plant them at the proper time. You may want to organize the seeds in alphabetical order or by the month for planting. Design a system that works best for you.

You can create your own seed storage organizer or purchase one. Store the seeds in a cool dark location in an airtight container to help maintain their viability and keep them safe from mice.

Once your seed starting schedule is created and seeds are organized, prepare the space for starting seeds indoors if needed. Make sure your grow lights are in working order and you have sufficient containers, flats, and seed starting mix for planting.

Save money by repurposing yogurt, applesauce, and similar food containers into seed starting pots. Just clean and add drainage holes. Look for used cell packs, flats, and small pots that can be used again. Disinfect these by soaking them in a one-part bleach and nine-part water solution for ten minutes then rinse with clear water. Repurposing saves you money and helps reduce plastic waste and the risk of disease that could kill your seedlings.

Taking time to plan and organize now can save you money while helping you maximize the productivity and beauty of your gardens.

Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Revised Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.