I’M JUST CURIOUS – Muckraking: to be explained

by Debbie Walker

I believe IT has started. The IT is dirty politics for an upcoming election of one sort or another. I can’t even pay attention to what the election is for; I was just immediately put off by the nasty comments. I couldn’t even tell you what the comment was about. I have started a check list of the office and then the candidate and give “credit” where credit is due. If they all do it I guess there will be no one left.

There is history involved in the dirty politics, all levels I would guess. It didn’t start with Hilary and Trump, even though that continues to be a mess. I don’t have patience for any of it.

I do wish my history buff Dad was still alive. I would love to pick his brain on the subject. He’s not so I am relying on my attitude, a friend and The Farmer’s Almanac Special Edition, 2017 (https://www.farmersalmanac.com/crazy-president-elections-25625)

The article in The Farmer’s Almanac had to do with histories of presidential election: “Hair Splitting, Mud Slinging and Duels, Oh My.” I found an interesting word that I had to look up: “Mudraking.” I found it to be: “the action of searching out and publicizing scandalous information about famous people in an underhanded way.”

Mudracking. How do you feel about it? The link to the article is provided for you to possibly get your latest history lesson. The article talks about presidential elections that are one level. My recent upset was about a much lower level (just a term of definition) of the election system, but I liked the term muckraking.

I am sure you have the idea now. I don’t know about you but I am tired of it all. I find it a waste of my time. I am not likely to look at it as any kind of reliable information.

Candidates must pay for their commercial time. They use this time to talk trash? As a voter, I would rather hear what they think they can offer us as “responsible and credible” candidates. “They propose, support and create laws or policies that govern the land and by extension, it’s people” (Wikipedia).

I have been told that I am quite naive. I tend to look at things simply. I have never been a “game player” and I am too old to start now. I would like to hear the candidates’ own thoughts on what they can do for us and I doubt that I am alone on that one. The muckraking may be part of an excitement that some people enjoy. I’m not one of them, are you? This article was simply wrapped around my attitude, opinion and belief, and in no way represents this newspaper.

“When he took the job labeled responsible, he thought he had gotten the breaks; he wasn’t aware that it meant he’d be responsible for all mistakes,” by George O. Ludcke.

As always I am just curious how you feel about the whole process. Comments are welcome at dwdaffy@yahoo.com . Have a great week and thank you for reading.

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Jazz musician: Stan Kenton; Comedian: Robert Benchley; Composer: Beethoven

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Stan Kenton

Stan Kenton Presents
Capitol T248, mono lp, 1955 re-issue of original 78 singles and a ten-inch LP from 1950.

Stan Kenton

The great Stan Kenton (1911-1979) recorded a batch of singles in 1950 that highlighted the arranging and compositional skills of such SK loyalists as Shorty Rogers, Bill Russo, Frank Marks and Johnny Richards. The titles- Art Pepper, Maynard Ferguson, June Christy, etc., – feature performances by the named individual and exciting ones at that. My favorite, June Christy, has her wonderful voice all over the place, mostly humming but in her inimitably sultry manner.

Copies of the LP start at four dollars, while a few selections from the album can be accessed on youtube.

Robert Benchley

Benchley’s Best
Audio Rarities LPA 110, ten-inch LP, no date of release info anywhere, although I would guess the ‘50s because 10-inch LPs were pretty much discontinued in the US by the late ‘50s, as they were very easy to steal.

Robert Benchley

Robert Benchley (1889-1945) was a writer, a noted wit at the Algonquin Hotel Round Table, an actor, and a radio comedian.

The above LP has four skits from his radio programs, including two of his Flying Broomstick routines and a “lecture” on the history and development of swing music. In fact he begins his talk with the following:

“Tonight, I wish to lecture about the origin and development of swing music, do a survey of 17th century Italian art, and perhaps scramble some eggs…I can speak with authority on swing because I can’t carry a tune either…. The composer who is most responsible for its beginnings is Johann Gottfried Inglenook Gesundheit, who was born in Japan in 1789. It has been written that he was a backwards but friendly child and was taken out of school when he was five years old. ”

Two more – “Why don’t you get out of those wet clothes and into a dry martini?” and “All it takes to make a monkey of a man is to quote him!”

Benchley died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1945 at 56. His son, Nathaniel Benchley (1915-1981) wrote children’s books and a bio of his father, while his grandson, Peter (1940-2006), authored the novel and screenplay, Jaws.

Three copies of the LP are priced from $49 to $75 through Amazon and none of it is available through YouTube, although there are other Bentleys on YouTube in plentiful supply!

Beethoven

Piano Sonatas 7, 9, 30, and 31
Awadagin Pratt, pianist; EMI 7243 5 55290 2 2, CD, recorded 1994.

Awadagin Pratt

Three of these four Sonatas – 7, 30 and 31 are huge favorites of mine, especially 7 with one eloquent second movement Largo that raises goosebumps on my arm every time I hear it. The Pittsburg-born pianist, Awadagin Pratt now 52, gives performances that mix gentle lyricism, the required virtuosity and an interesting silky type of phrasing at odd moments. Other than that, he plays in a straightforward, very honest manner that conveys a genuine love for these works. And they are well worth getting to know.

The entire CD can be heard on YouTube and is priced inexpensively on Amazon.

SOLON & BEYOND: Benefit bean supper, and Solon Elementary School honor roll

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

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

There will be a benefit bean supper for Robert “Bobby” Dunphy on Saturday, June 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Northern Star Masonic Lodge across from Carrabec High School, in North Anson.

Students from the Solon Elementary eighth grade who will be graduating soon are Tyler Ames, Gavin Atwood, Delena Cabral, Michael Crane, Charlie Golden, Courtney Grunder, Zackary Hemond, Alexis Leidy, Ciara, Myers-Sleeper, Abigail Parent, Machaon Pierce, Allison Pinkham, Cailan Priest, Paige Reichert, Desmond Robinson, Gerald Rollins, Lawrence Soucie, Brooks Sousa, Carl Ward, Braden Wheeler, Ciarrah Whittemore and Nicholas Wildes.

Christy Jablon, of Embden, has been hired to be Solon’s Town Treasurer. This position is a hired one instead of elected. The town still needs a Deputy Clerk and Deputy Tax Collector. For more information you may call the Solon Selectmen at 643-2541 or 643-2812.

The Solon Fire Dept. Auxiliary is selling summer calendar raffle for 2018 calendars through the month of June. Every ticket gives you 31 chances to win, every time your name is drawn, it goes back in for a chance to be drawn again…and again. All proceeds go to benefit the Solon Volunteer Fire Department. Funds collected are used for such things as additional training, safety equipment, fire prevention education, as well as community outreach programs.

The Solon Summer Kids Program, which offers a variety of activities, including free breakfast and lunch, to be held at Solon Elementary School from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Children will travel by bus to Embden Lake for swimming lessons during the week of July 23-27.

There is a pink form that you will have to fill out marking the dates your child will be attending. Please return the form to the school or town office ASAP. Any questions? Please call Laura Layman, 643-2593 or 399-1385, There will be no cost for this program.

Celebrate in Solon on July 4 with parade, fireworks and more! They would love to have entries such as music, floats, dancers, animals, antiques, businesses, and much more. If you would like to join us, pre-register with one of the following committee members today!! Alicia – 431-1506, Elizabeth – 399 – 6185, Blin – 399-4388, Leslie – 643-2842.

Schedule of events include: 9 – 1 a.m., registration and facepainting; 11 a.m.: parade! 6 – 9 p.m., food sale and fireworks at dusk!

For more information go to solon.maine.gov or find us on Facebook @solons4thofjulyparade.

Rebecea Philpot, director of the New Hope Women’s Shelter, in Solon, spoke at the morning service of the Bingham Congregational Church on Sunday, June 3. The remarkable story of the shelter ministry touched the hearts of those in attendance and a generous donation was given to the shelter. My many thanks to the minister of that church for sharing this news.

The town of Solon has a need to fill the following volunteer positions: planning board member, appeals board member, Coolidge Library Board of Trustees, Community Recreation Department, youth sports coodinator and Community Recreation Department youth sports coaches.

Please see the municipal clerk or selectmen for more information.

And so for Percy’s memoir:

God grant me Your eyes so I will see
All the earth’s beauty surrounding me.
God, give me Your lips and I’ll express Your love for all people with gentleness.
And Lord, let my hands be tender, like Yours,
So I will be one who renews and restores.
God, grant me these things and then I’ll share Compassion and mercy, praise and prayer! ”
All these,” the Lord said, “I already impart:
They’re found when you’re living from the heart.” (words by Pat Mitchell.)

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Don’t Let Nausea Spoil Your Life

(NAPSI) — If you ever get sick to your stomach due to pregnancy, chemotherapy, surgery, riding in a car, a boat, a plane or an amusement park ride, or even virtual reality gaming, you may be relieved to learn two things:

First, you’re not alone. Nausea affects millions of people every day. Scientists are not sure why, but according to a study published in the journal Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, there is a significant genetic contribution that may be responsible for as much as 57 percent of the people who suffer from motion sickness.

What To Do

Next, whatever the cause, you can feel better with the help of these four anti-nausea tips:

  • Eat light, plain food, such as dry bread and crackers.
  • Avoid anything too sweet or greasy.
  • Sip certain liquids if you can—ginger ale, ginger tea, mint tea and plain water may all help.
  • Get a fast-acting, drug-free, nausea relief band that works without the side effects of medications such as drowsiness and constipation.

How It Works

Featuring a clinically-proven technology, it’s a specially designed wristband that uses patented scientific knowledge, endorsed by health care professionals, and that emits accurately programmed pulses with highly specific waveforms, frequency and intensity. These pulses signal the median nerve at the P6 location on the underside of the wrist. This stimulation of the nerves, known as “neuromodulation,” uses the body’s natural neural pathways to send messages to the part of the brain that controls nausea, retching and vomiting. The signals have a rebalancing effect, normalizing nerve messages from the brain to the stomach and quickly reducing symptoms of nausea, retching and vomiting.

The unique band is easy to use and comfortable to wear, even over time, and the attractive design rivals the most fashionable wearables. Called Reliefband 2.0, it features a latex-free band and hypoallergenic surgical steel contacts for efficient transmission of pulses. The intuitive display has 10 intensity settings that can be moved up and down at the touch of a button and a battery that lasts about 18 hours on a full charge and recharges quickly. This adjustable band, designed to control nausea, helps put you back in control so you can live your life in full motion.

Learn More

For more information, go to www.reliefband.com, and to find a community of fellow nausea sufferers and learn how they cope, visit www.nationalstopnauseaday.com.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Despite 50-year decline in numbers, there seems to be a lot more blue jays

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

While taking a break from my chores at camp over the weekend, I tried to figure out what my column was going to be about this week. Thoughts were coming hard until I noticed all around me were blue jays galore.

Other than knowing they are scavengers, noisy and the mascot of a professional baseball team in Toronto, I had to learn more about them.

The very recognizeable blue jay.

Blue jays, Cyanocitta cristata, are found in all kinds of forests but especially near oak trees. They are mostly found on the edges of forests as opposed to deep forest. They are common in both urban and suburban areas, especially where bird feeders are found.

Blue jays prefer tray feeders or hopper feeders on a post rather than a hanging feeder. We have found at camp that many of the jays we see are feeding on the ground under the hanging feeders. They prefer peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet.

They also glean insects and take nuts and seeds in trees, shrubs and on the ground. Blue jays sometimes raid nests for eggs and nestlings, and sometimes pick up dead of dying adult birds. Stomach contents over the year are about 22 percent insect. Acorns, nuts, fruits, and grains made up almost the entire remainder. They hold food items in their feet while pecking them open. They also store food in caches to eat later.

Blue jays build their nests in the crotch or thick outer branches of a deciduous or coniferous tree, usually 10 – 25 feet above the ground. Male and female both gather materials and build the nest, but on average, the male does more gathering and female more building. Twigs used in outer part of the nest are usually taken from live trees, and the birds often struggle to break them off. The birds may fly great distances to obtain rootlets from recently dug ditches, fresh graves in cemeteries, and newly-fallen trees. Blue jays may abandon their nests after detecting a predators nearby.

The highly-recognizeable bird is known for its intelligence and complex social systems, and have tight family bonds. They often mate for life, remaining with their social mate throughout the year. Only the female incubates the eggs. The male provides all her food during incubation.

For the first 8 – 12 days after the nestlings hatch, the female broods them and the male provides food for his mate and nestlings. Females will share food gathering after that time. There is apparently a lot of individual variation in how quickly the young become independent. Blue jays communicate with each other by sound and by “body language,” using their crests. The lower the crest, the lower their level of aggression, and when they become more aggressive, the crest is high. When the blue jay squawks, the crest is virtually always held up.

Blue jays have a wide variety of vocalization, with an immense “vocabulary.” They are also excellent mimics. They have been known to mimic red-tailed hawks among other species of birds.

Some people don’t like blue jays because of their aggressive ways, but there are birds that are much more aggressive, like woodpeckers, grackles, mourning doves, mockingbirds and cardinals, throwing in gray squirrels in the mix. These species will actually keep blue jays away from feeders. So, to compensate for that, blue jays will imitate hawks when approaching a feeder to ward off the other, more aggressive birds, causing them to scatter. However, they usually return once they realize its a blue jay, and not a hawk.

Blue jay populations decreased by about 28 percent between 1966 and 2015, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Also, Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of about 13 million birds, with 87 percent of them present in the U.S., and 13 percent in Canada. The bird is not listed on the 2016 State of North America’s Birds Watch List. They are not endangered.

The most frequent cause of death associated with humans come from attacks by dogs and cats.

There may have been a sizable decrease in their population over the last 50 years, but we’ve seen an increase in their presence at camp, and at home.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Which baseball team won the first World Series championship in 1903?

Answers can be found here.

I’m Just Curious: How long thingz last

by Debbie Walker

Have you ever wondered how long kitchen ingrediantz are useful? I found an article written by Charlez Kelsey in a magazine; COOK’S Illustrated and and it has the answerz.

I picked up the magazine intending to send it on to my granddaughter, Tristin, because of some of the really interesting articlez and this one caught my eye: “Keeping Kitchen Staples Fresher Longer.” Loved it, of course, I knew mine were far from fresh but….

Spices & Dried Herbz: Whole Spicez: Two year shelf life. Ground Spicez and Dried Herbz: One year. Whenever possible possible buy whole and grind before using. Don’t store on counter close to stove.

Vinegarz: shelf life: Long lasting – indefinitely. Sediment in vinegar is harmless and doesn’t affect taste. You can alwayz strain if you would rather.(coffee filter would probably work).

Olive Oil: Unopened: One year (goes rancid after). Open: three monthz. Keep in dark cabinet.

Other Oils: for optimal flavor, replace after opened for six months. Store in pantry: Canola, Corn, Peanut, and vegetable. Store in refrigerator: Sesame and Walnut.

Beyond Pantry:

Butter: kept in refrigerator no more than a month. Any longer, in freezer in a baggie for up to four monthz. Eggs: Never put eggz in the egg tray on the fridge door. – too warm. Keep in carton. Store in fridge for 3 – 5 weeks.

Soy Sauce: Shelf life: one year in pantry. If unpasteurized store in fridge.

Sweetenerz: Shelf Life: Sugar, honey and molasses = long lasting. Maple Syrup – two yearz unopened, one year open. Granulated sugar in airtight container. Molasses and honey in pantry. Opened maple syrup in refrigerator.

CHILL: These items stay fresh longer in freezer: Bay leavez , flourz with heavy germ content and cornmeal. Nutz and seed, and yeast.

Leavenerz: Shelf: Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Six monthz (Tested true despite manufacturer’z suggested datez). Instant or Active Dry Yeast: Four monthz in the freezer.

FLOUR: Shelf Life: All Purpose Flour: One year (in airtight container). Whole Wheat flour And Cornmeal: One year (in freezer in airtight container).

CHOCOLATE: Shelf Life: Unsweetened and Dark Chocolate: Two Yearz. Milk and White Chocolate: Six monthz.

VANILLA: Shelf life: Long lasting. (Testz proved it might last as long as 10 yearz and still be good).

Okay, enough of that for tonight! While thumbing through magazinez and bookz I came across this little saying and I think it fits us great! “It’z not the lionz and tigerz that’ll get you … It’z the MOSQUITOEZ!

We are nearing the end of the school year. The kidz I have been with this year have progressed so much, as all the other students. Everyone improvez their life with reading. For the children it couldn’t be more important. Please encourage the children in your life to read to you. If you are a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle or a family friend allowing them to show you their skillz is sooooooo important. You be amazed at how this will make you feel, as well.

As usual I am just curiouz how your pantriez will do with the column information! Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with any questionz or commentz. (I was just playing with the s/z stuff, I saw it on a local business: CONE’Z and liked it).

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Musician: Morton Gould; Singer: Frank Sinatra; Conductor: Tchaikovsky

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Morton Gould

South of the Border
Columbia, m-593, 4 ten-inch 78s, recorded mid-’40s.

A very gifted pianist, composer, arranger and conductor, Morton Gould (1913-1996) straddled the worlds of classical and popular music very comfortably in a manner similar to Andre Kostelanetz, conductor and film composer John Williams and the latter’s Boston Pops predecessor, Arthur Fiedler. His classical compositions, often evoking American history, include Fall River Legend with its depiction of Lizzie Borden; and my favorite, the very powerful Spirituals for Orchestra. In later years, he wrote pieces featuring a rapper and a singing chorus of firemen for the city of Pittsburgh.

His LPs conducting such favorites as Rimsky’s Scheherazade, Copland’s Rodeo, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 and ballet waltzes, etc., are on my shelves.

But his most successful endeavors lay in the imaginative arranging of pop standards on a slew of albums, from the ‘40s until the late ‘60s, that were frequently categorized as mood music, similar to those of Kostelanetz, Fiedler, Percy Faith, Mantovani, Paul Weston and Bert Kaempfert. The above set consists of such hits as Brazil, Cielito Lindo, La Golondrina, and the mirthful Mexican Hat Dance. Unfortunately, it was only released on 78s and a ten-inch LP and is out of print, but a copy is listed on Amazon for 12 bucks; two selections from the album are also accessible on YouTube.

Frank Sinatra

The Voice
Columbia CL 743, LP, released 1955.

By the time this re-issue of selected early-to-mid ‘40s 78s appeared, Sinatra had been with Capitol records a couple of years. However, Columbia had quickly realized the cash cow potential of their own stockpile of tapes and began releasing 10- and 12-inch LP transfers. The move has proven very successful in the 65 years since.

The Voice contains 12 exquisite examples of the singer’s phrasing, characterizing and other facets of his unique set of pipes. And Axel Stordahl’s arrangements achieved a compatibility with “Old Blue Eyes” that was later matched only by Nelson Riddle. The songs include A Ghost of a Chance, Try a Little Tenderness, Spring is Here, etc. and the album has been transferred to CD.

An FS quote – “Alcohol is man’s worst enemy, but the Bible says to love your enemy!”

Tchaikovsky

Symphony No.6, “Pathetique”; Serenade for Strings; for the 6th, Marko Munih conducting the Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ljubljana; for the Serenade, Conrad Von Der Goltz conducting a chamber orchestra; CBS Special Productions PT 21698, cassette, released 1989.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) conducted the world premiere of his 6th Symphony just nine days before his death, caused supposedly by cholera after drinking an unboiled glass of water in a restaurant. To my mind, it is one very emotionally searing work and has benefited from a rich list of good to very great recordings, of which I own a few dozen.

The above is conducted by the 82-year-old Marko Munih, one of two very gifted conductors – the other being his late contemporary, Anton Nanut, who died just last year at 85 – whose recordings, via mainly cheap CDs sometimes labelled confusingly, have made their way to Western collectors since the collapse of the Iron Curtain. The performance is intensely powerful yet nicely poetic, while the playing is responsive and masterful, definitely as accomplished as the world’s finest in both Europe and the U.S. The sense of tragedy in the final 4th movement is well sustained.

The beautiful Serenade is also performed well.

IF WALLS COULD TALK: Back to the days at Colby Junior College

Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, so sorry our faithful readers missed us last week! Yes, my phone rang and rang again! However, I used more words on the column about Dr. H. Leslie Sawyer’s name now gracing the New London, New Hampshire, four-year college. Yes, I’m not only proud to have been a 1950 graduate of the, then, two-year Junior College, but truly proud to be living in the Maine town in which, when a child, Dr. Sawyer grew up.

Just last week, a student at Colby Sawyer was written about in another daily newspaper and now, WALLS, let’s tell folks why my best friends in Skowhegan High School chose to go to Colby Junior College (CJC) back in 1948. So many people in Skowhegan knew of the fine education one might receive at the New London, New Hampshire, college. In fact, we learned in my medical secretarial class that Skowhegan’s Dr. Young was once the doctor who read all CJC X-rays!

I mentioned my classmates from SHS who were graduates of CJC in 1950. Both have elected to go to a full-care living facility. Marilyn Cockburn Leggett is now in South Burlington, Vermont, and Jean Finley Doughty isat Pierce House, in Wilton. In fact, I’m about to write both of them and tell about Jeanette Poulin Dionne, Violet LeClair Ferland, Dick Getchell (president of our ’48 class), meeting here at my house in East Madison to plan our 70th SHS reunion! Wow, lots of happy memories in those 70 years…yes, prior to ’48. By the way, faithful readers, we have been discussing those of ’48 with our SHS ’48 LEVERS in hand, so for those of you who know new addresses or ‘whatever’ about our classmates, please contact Jeannette Poulin or Vi Ferland with info.

Y’know, WALLS, the four of us have shared so much of our lives with each other. Our meetings have been truly fun. Just imagine what it will be like when we all get together!

Y’all come….hear?

SOLON & BEYOND: Percy’s words of wisdom remembered

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

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

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, May 12th at the Solon Fire Station with Cooper Dellarma presiding.

Several members and four leaders helped at the Luck of the Draw on May 5.

On Mothers Day four members and one guest passed out flowers at the Solon Congregational Church.

Seven members are planning to attend Fun Day at Lake George on Wednesday, June 20.

After the meeting Logan Miller showed the members how to make key chains and dog leashes.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, June 9, at the Solon Fire Station. After the meeting the members will be going on an educational tour to the Buffalo Farm in South Solon.
My apologies that I don’t have anything else for real news this week. Since it is Memorial Day as I sit here at my computer, I am going to print this letter I wrote, (probably in 2005) in memory of Percy.

Dear Friends, Percy and I have missed you. He took it really hard when his picture and advice were no longer in this paper. In fact, he was down right impossible to live with! He needed more cuddling than I really had time for as I was trying to get things made for a craft fair I was doing. My patience ran thin on days when he wouldn’t let me knit. He would climb up in my lap and I would insist that that he lay across my legs so I could still maneuver the knitting needles. He would keep trying to get his face closer to mine and the knitting needles would hit him on his nose, he would get this martyred look on his face, and I would give up and put the knitting aside and cuddle with him.

My heart has swelled to its capacity from all the nice things that have been said and written to me about how much you have missed Percy’s and my column in this paper. As I stressed several times at meetings in South China, my goal in writing all these years has been to bring love and laughter to you, my old and new friends. And so it is with great appreciation and love and many thanks for your kind words, that I write this letter to you.

Percy and I also appreciate all the calls we received, asking if his bowels had moved yet. There were even more calls than I received before the election when all the campaigning was going on! Percy is a famous and special cat from all the good advice he has given out.

I checked, and he would like to end this letter with the best advice yet; “Live well, Laugh often, Love much (even if it hurts at times).” With love, from Marilyn and Percy.

For those of you who don’t know, Percy died two years ago in November. We still miss him immensely, he was truly a very special animal!

And now for Percy’s memoir: “Money will buy a bed but not sleep, books but not brains, food but not appetite, finery but not beauty, a house but not a home, medicine but not health, luxuries but not culture, amusement but not happiness, religion but not salvation, a passport to everywhere but heaven.”

Also came across a memory from 2004 from Walter Jones, who lived in Solon. It was a short e-mail: Marilyn, I was so happy and surprised to get The Town Line I read it and re-read it again, that was my first issue. I felt like I was back in Solon. I know my folks get it, Richard and Jean LaCasce, and I know they didn’t want me to be left out. Now I look for it. We don’t get much news here. Sometimes we can get on the internet and find out what is happening in our back yard and around the world but I really enjoy The Town Line. It makes my days go so much faster. Keep sending it to my unit in Iraq. Thanks.

(I had forgotten how far this little paper has traveled over these many years. So glad I had saved this precious scrap of paper with its heartfelt memory.)

Give Us Your Best Shot! Week of May 31, 2018

BUSY SHUTTER: Michael Bilinsky, of China Village, has been busy with his camera. From top to bottom, a cardinal, a blue jay, and, just as summer is approaching, a reminder from last winter.

To submit a photo for The Town Line’s “Give Us Your Best Shot!” section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@fairpoint.net!

photo by Michael Bilinsky

 

photo by Michael Bilinsky

 

photo by Michael Bilinsky