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SCORES & OUTDOORS: Stink bug or pumpkin (squash) bug?

March 28, 2018/0 Comments/in Scores & Outdoors/by Roland D. Hallee

by Roland D. Hallee

A reader called the office last week to inquire about a bug that resembles a ladybug, but is green in color. She was wondering if it was a pumpkin bug. Well, it very well could be.

The pumpkin bug, or squash bug, are also called stink bugs, but are not the traditional stink bug. Although some pumpkin bugs are called stink bugs, not all stink bugs are pumpkin bugs. If you ever spot a sizable green stink bug, there’s a good chance that it’s a pumpkin bug. They are similar in appearance to stink bugs because they both have a foul odor when squashed. However, stink bugs are wider and rounder.

squash bug

The squash bug, Anasa tristis, is common throughout the United States. It primarily attacks squash and pumpkins but can also attack other cucurbits, such as cucumbers.

They are the bane of a gardener. They are difficult to kill and can cause a lot of havoc.

The adult bugs are somewhat flat, large insects, measuring 5/8 inch long and 1/3 inch wide. They are usually dark gray to dark brown. The edges of the abdomens protrude beyond their wings and typically have alternating orangish and brown stripes. They are able to fly, however they often simply walk around on plants.

These bugs overwinter as adults in sheltered places, such as under plant debris, around buildings, or under rocks. When adults emerge in the spring, they fly to growing cucurbit plants to feed and mate. Females lay eggs individually in small clusters of about 20 commonly on the undersides of the leaves, especially between the veins where they form a V. The females usually begin to appear in gardens in early June, and continue to lay eggs through mid-summer.

These bugs have piercing-sucking mouth-parts they use to suck the sap out of leaves. This process produces yellow spots that eventually turn brown, and disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, which can cause wilting. Young plants are more susceptible to extensive damage. Larger, more vigorous plants are more tolerant of feeding damage, although they can also be injured or killed if they are severely attacked.

These bugs inject a toxin into the plant and suck the sap right out of it with their sharp mouthparts. This causes yellow spots that eventually turn brown. The leaves will wilt because the damage prevents the flow of nutrients to the leaves, and then they will dry up and turn black.

The most important times to control squash bugs are when the plants are young seedlings and when they are flowering. Early detection is important because adult squash bugs are difficult to kill.

Remove or knock off and kill nymphs and adults by dropping them into a bucket of soapy water. This can be challenging because the bugs hide under leaves and move quickly when disturbed.

Crush the eggs that are attached to the undersides and stems of leaves.

Trap the bugs by laying out boards or pieces of newspaper. The bugs will congregate under the boards at night, and then can be collected and destroyed in the morning.

Check your plants daily. If there are no more than a few vines infected, keep collecting and destroying the bugs and crushing the egg clusters that you find.

Insecticides are not generally needed to control these bugs. They can be used if cucurbits are found wilting early in the season. Carbaryl/Sevin is most effective if applied when eggs are hatching. Consult your local garden center for controls that are locally approved. When using an insecticide, make sure to read the instructions well.

Planting time is approaching. Make sure your garden is free of these little pests. There is no worse feeling than seeing your plants being destroyed and you have no idea what is causing it. Check under the leaves.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In addition to pitching a one-hitter in game two of the 1967 World Series, who became the first Red Sox pitcher to win the AL Cy Young Award in 1967?

Answer can be found here.

I’m Just Curious: I think it’s interesting

March 28, 2018/0 Comments/in I’m Just Curious/by Debbie Walker

by Debbie Walker

I think it’s interesting but do you? I have been into the magazines again; I once again, started just cutting articles out with no thought of what magazines the ideas came from. So I apologize to those writers for not being able to give them credit they are due.

Since I have no depth perception at all, as my brother told me, I was pleased to come across these: a quarter is nearly an inch in diameter and one foot is 16 pennies laid in a row. A dollar is approximately 6-1/2 inches. While we are still playing with money did you know a penny, nickel or a dime can be used as a flathead screw driver? Did you ever think of using a coin or two to steady a wobbly table? You can also use a penny inserted into a tire tread with Lincoln’s head upside down, if you can see his whole head your tires are worn out!

Don’t throw out that empty cardboard egg carton just yet. I read you can rest your laptop on it to prevent overheating. You don’t want to leave them on a pillow or blankets, seems harmless but….

Garden starter; use those disposed egg shells and cartons with a little soil to get a head start on the garden.

Although I wouldn’t recommend trying this one I had to see if you reacted as I did to the advice. I question the intelligence of this:

How to tell how hot your grill is without a thermometer: The writer claimed this tip is chef-tested (?) and trusted method. Hold your hand palm side down over the grill, about four inches from the grate. “Count the seconds you can stand (?) to keep your hand there. 2 seconds = high heat, 3-4 seconds medium heat, etc.” I have one comment “How Stupid!”

According to an Almanac Throwback of 1894, dandelions, young milkweed (?), mustard (?), horseradish (?) tops, young beet tops, cowslips (?) and turnip tops are good for greens. The ones I question marked I have questions about, imagine that! Do all of the questioned ones grow wild? And I think fiddleheads should be in this list. I love greens!!

I cruised the 2018 Farmer’s Almanac and decided to share the 11 symbols that make people think of America. They are: American Bald Eagle, Apple pie, American Bison, The Flag, Fourth of July Parade, White Picket Fences, Norman Rockwell Illustrations, Thanksgiving, Uncle Sam, Statue of Liberty, and Little red wagons!

I didn’t know how talented chickens are in gardening. It seems in the spring they are the aerators and tillers. In the summer their specialty is pest and weed control. Fall finds the chickens busy with the clean-up and fertilization. Winter is for composting, maintenance and spring prep. (even in Maine?) Who knew those little critters kept so busy and how important they are. I just thought of them in terms of my Sunday morning breakfast supplies!

Okay, I am just curious if this column gave you info you didn’t know. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with your questions or comments. And don’t forget we are also online.

Thanks for reading!

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Singer/Songwriter: John Prine; Album: Ralph Towner/Gary Burton; Movie: Angel and the Badman

March 28, 2018/0 Comments/in Review Potpourri/by Peter Cates

by Peter Cates

John Prine

The first time I heard singer/songwriter John Prine, now 71, was at the Gorham gym, of what is now the University of Southern Maine, during the spring of 1972. He was the opening act for Lighthouse, was totally new to me and failed to make any impression .

Even his incredible fame over the 47 years that have elapsed since then never stirred my curiosity – that is until just over two weeks ago. While surfing YouTube, I chanced upon a 2011 post featuring him singing a duet with Iris Dement, who has been a favorite singer of mine for at least 25 years.

The song was In Spite of Ourselves with these opening lines; “She don’t like her eggs all runny/She thinks crossin’ her legs is funny/She looks down her nose at money/She gets it on like the Easter Bunny/She’s my baby/I’m her honey/I’m never gonna let her go.”

I won’t quote further because the lyrics go a bit over the top but they are a celebration of true love between a couple who each have two verses to “extol” each other. And, yes, the song was written by Prine and featured on a 1999 album as the title one. He had Dement in mind for the duet. His wife called the singer to tease her about the lyrics, while Dement took a period to gather the courage to record it.

The song became a much requested hit; there are numerous YouTubes from over the last 19 years in which Prine sings with Dement, Emmy Lou Harris and others, not to mention other couples.

Ralph Towner/Gary Burton

Matchbook; ECM records, ECM-1056, stereo LP, recorded 1975.

This very exquisite, delectable album is a collaboration between two very gifted players – guitarist Ralph Towner, now 78, and the presently 75-year-old vibraphonist, Gary Burton. It assembles some of the most captivating “soft” jazz to be heard anywhere, yet not in the superficial, commercialized mode of a few other performers, especially from the ‘70s when such muzak really thrived.

The nine selections include seven original Towner compositions, the Adolf Comden, Betty Green and Leonard Bernstein, Some Other Time, and Charlie Mingus’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. The album is one I shall return to.

Often during the past 47 years, I would confuse Burton, with another Gary who was also a wonderful vibraphonist, was born the same year, 1943, as Burton, but died very tragically at the age of 38 in 1971 – namely, Gary MacFarlane !

Angel and the Badman

starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey, Sr., Bruce Cabot, Tom Powers, etc.; directed by James Edward Grant; Republic Pictures, 1947, 100 minutes, VHS cassette.

John Wayne

John Wayne is a gunslinger who served as Wyatt Earp’s deputy at OK Corral but is running from an otherwise questionable past. Gail Russell portrays the Quaker maiden who falls in love with him. The very engaging actor, Harry Carey, Sr., is the sheriff in pursuit of Wayne while Bruce Cabot appears as another outlaw also gunning for JW. Due to space, all I can say is that I love this film for its plotting, pacing, character development, phenomenal performances from every cast member and the most splendid concluding confrontation scene and aftermath. Finally, there are moments when Carey comes very close to stealing the show; his death within a year was a major blow to cinema!

John Wayne was a very caring friend to Gail Russell, who was an extremely shy, vulnerable woman and who would succumb to alcoholism at the age of 36 in 1961, despite Wayne’s very caring and frequent help and support.

SOLON & BEYOND: Local pastor undertakes mission trip to Uganda

March 28, 2018/0 Comments/in Solon & Beyond/by Marilyn Rogers-Bull

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

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

Several columns ago I told you that Pastor Tim Hunt of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church, in Solon, was going on a mission trip to Uganda. He sent me a very interesting and inspiring letter telling about his trip and I take great pleasure in sharing it with you.

From Pastor Tim: ” We have all had “profound moments” in our lives. February 5 – 16, 2018, was one of those times for me. While our wives stayed home to shovel snow and tend the wood fires, three other pastors and I went on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa. to encourage and minister to Ugandan pastors. It was an awesome time, a challenging time, a rewarding and fulfilling time. There were heart-wrenching moments, but there were times of fun and laughter, too. There was great fellowship as we four American pastors served together. Above all, it was a”God-moment” in time for each of us as our horizons were broadened and we saw the struggles, the joy, and the faith of our Ugandan brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you who supported me financially on this trip and who prayed for me and my colleagues as we ministered in that beautiful country. Here is a brief summary of what we did there.

On February 5, three pastors – Bob Emrich, Tom Brown, and I left Boston on an eight-hour flight to Amsterdam. There we connected with the fourth member of our team, Jerry Conklin, from Oregon, before another nine-hours to Entebbe, Uganda, where we stayed overnight in a brand new hotel. The next day, Wednesday, we traveled to our destination – the Kalungu District – which is just southwest of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

Thursday and Friday we had Bible conference at Faith Bible School where each of us spoke for an hour session via a translator, with Q & A both days. Then in the evenings, we divided into two groups of two and had two one-hour Bible studies in two local churches nearby. It was impressive to that these Bible School students, after being in a conference all day, walked a mile to get two more hours of Bible teaching in the evening. These student-pastors are hungry to learn the Word of God.

Saturday was the first graduation of Faith Bible School. What a privilege to be there and experience and excitement of the nineteen students and their families as they received their diplomas! This was quite an achievement for them, as they also have to work long hours in their gardens just to feed their families.

Sunday the four of us went to different churches in the area. I was to go to one that was a half-hour drive away. I was to be picked up at 9:30 a.m. However, my ride never came. Just after 9:30 a.m., a small motorcycle arrived (with a live turkey tied to the back), and thinking this might be my ride I inquired. The driver declined. Forty minutes later my ride did come, and I had a great time ministering in Pastor Joel’s church for the remainder of the morning and early afternoon. Many of those in Uganda were amazed that we Americans would come all the way to Uganda to the poor countryside to teach them the word of God.”

In this letter that I received from Tim it goes on to tell of some of the other churches they visited on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I found this one quite interesting: ‘Richard pastors a church where there are rural farms. We literally followed a cow path to the church location. Richard leaves home on his motor-cycle for Bible School at 5 AM, picks up student #2, then goes and picks up student #3 and travels for three hours (three men on a bike) to arrive at school by 8 a.m.’”

On Thursday they headed back to Kampala and ultimately home sweet home.

And so for Percy’s memoir:

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

(There wasn’t any name to say who wrote these words, but I hope they help you.)

IF WALLS COULD TALK: March 17 has more meaning to me than St. Patrick’s Day

March 28, 2018/0 Comments/in If Walls Could Talk/by Katie Ouilette

by Katie Ouilette

WALLS, you sure have been busy this week! Frankly, if I were you, I’d begin by wishing The Town Line congratulations for bringing the news to everyone, at least to everyone in these parts, for 30 years. We should also thank Gary and Trish Newcomb for their being the founders of The Town Line. Like all things, time does change us along life’s way, but everyone who knows The Town Line must be especially grateful to Roland Hallee, since, as managing editor, he has carried the good works of The Town Line for all faithful readers since 2005. Actually, I have to admit that I had been writing this column for another newspaper. When that newspaper became history, I received a call from Roland and here you and I are, WALLS.

Well, that paragraph was easy, but, yes, WALLS was very busy this week. It all began on St. Patrick’s Day, as that was daughter’s birthday and Chuck planned a wonderful party for her. Then, in my ‘stuff’ there was a write-up with the heading “Did You Know?” Yes, faithful readers, do you know that St. Patrick was born in 389 and died in 461? Wow! He was the son of a Romano-British official, Calparius. When St.Patrick was captured by raiders at age 16, he was carried and became a slave in pagan Ireland. Six years later, he escaped and returned to Britain when he was about 22 years old. He studied at the monastery of Lerins. He was ordained, sent to Ireland, founded the Church of Armagh, which is now known as St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral. Yes, there he converted the Irish.

Now, Lynn’s birthday was on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, and then Skowhegan celebrated Governor Abner Coburn Day, per declaration issued by the Skowhegan Selectmen.

However, Governor Coburn was a very generous man and the name Coburn has been mounted on buildings all across the country. He was generous in death, also, and left money to have the Skowhegan Free Public Library built.

Attorney “Rob” Washburn was the one who delivered the Coburn message on March 22, while Evalyn Bowman and Shirley Whittemore served refreshments to all who attended. Oh, lest I forget, John Harlow was videographer for the event, in case you get Ch. 11 on your TV.

Today, there were so many folks attending Maine Maple Saturday and Sunday, and Kristina, Director of Skowhegan Main Street, you surely did a wonderful bit of organizing for all of us to enjoy.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: A Honey Of A Solution To Rough, Dry Skin

March 21, 2018/0 Comments/in For Your Health/by Website Editor

(NAPSI)—When Mother Nature sends enough rough weather to make it tough to keep skin smooth, the good news is she also created a way to soften it up again. Notably, honey and other products you may already have right in your own kitchen.

Why Save The Skin You’re In

Skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects the other organs, makes you sensitive to touch and literally keeps you from evaporating. If it’s itchy, dry and cracked, it can affect your health and happiness.

Fortunately, honey is a pure, botanical product at an economical price point. It’s a natural humectant, meaning it takes moisture from the air and traps it. These healing, moisturizing qualities are why many expensive cosmetics contain premium honey. Raw honey is even used to help treat wounds and prevent scarring and it encourages growth of new tissues while hydrating skin. Honey naturally leaves skin soft and supple. It also fights off bad bacteria, tightens pores, protects skin from sun damage, and moisturizes.

Dry Skin Remedy Recipes

Here are two simple ways Aunt Sue’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey can help your skin feel more supple.

Aunt Sue’s Dry Skin Remedy

This soothing, dry-skin solution is easy and effective, taking only minutes to make with three simple ingredients.

1 tablespoon Aunt Sue’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey
1 teaspoon olive oil
Juice from ½ a lemon

Mix honey, olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl. Apply lotion to dry areas and let sit for 20 minutes. Wipe off with a warm washcloth. Repeat as needed.

Homemade Honey Hand Balm

Easy to make, this hand balm does wonders for dry skin and can be used as a lotion, hair conditioner or cuticle cream, as well.

½ cup coconut oil
¼ cup almond oil
5 tablespoons beeswax pastilles
1 tablespoon shea butter
1 ½ tablespoons Aunt Sue’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey
10−20 drops of lavender oil
8-ounce glass jar, or several small tins with lids

Combine all ingredients except the honey and lavender oil into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals for two minutes or until all ingredients have melted. Mix in the honey and lavender oil and immediately pour into the jar. Let cool to room temperature. To reach desired texture, melt the balm again and add or remove beeswax or lavender oil.

Aunt Sue’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey is pure, U.S. honey, produced by the Sioux Honey Association Co-op, representing 275-plus independent beekeepers and nearly 100 years of honey-producing experience.

Learn More

For further honey facts, tips and skin care recipes, go to www.siouxhoney.com/beauty.

SPORTS & OUTDOORS: Efforts needed to save our moose from ticks

March 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Scores & Outdoors/by Roland D. Hallee

by Roland D. Hallee

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 73 percent of hunters harvested a moose during the last season. This was done despite warm spells in both September and October.

There were 2,080 permits issued, and 1,518 hunters were successful. That would lead you to believe that moose are plentiful.

Relatively speaking, this may be true. However, research by the department seems to indicate a drastic decline in our moose population. Once estimated at 90,000 moose, the population today could be as low as 50,000. With a substantial decline in the moose population also came the 50 percent reduction in moose permits issued last fall.

According to figures from the MDIFW, that is significant. The 73 percent success rate is consistent with the 71 percent success rate for moose hunters over the past five years. This is compared to turkey hunters who are generally about 30 percent, bear hunters are successful 25 percent of the time, while deer hunters in Maine are successful about 15-20 percent of the time.

However, in an interview with the Bangor Daily News, Maine moose biologist Lee Kantar stated that the reduction in moose permits has a negative impact on guides, sporting camps and rural Maine towns.

Kantar conducted a survey where 83 moose were captured and collared in early January in northern and western Maine.

“The thing that’s the challenge is that there’s no perfect data on how many moose are in any of those areas,” Kantar told reporter John Holyoke. What is causing this reduction in moose numbers? Kantar summed it up in one word: ticks!

In order to attempt to assess the population, DIF&W utilizes aerial flights to study the composition of the moose herd. Biologists also examine teeth from the moose to determine the animal’s age, measure antler spread, and monitor the number of ticks a moose carries, and examine cow ovaries in late fall to determine reproductive rate.

“Ultimately, we want to know about survival rates about cows and calves because they’re so crucial to our moose population, and whether we have growth or decline in stability,” Kantar told Holyoke. “We want to be able to predict at least the near future so we can satisfy what the public wants.”

In a press release from the MDIF&W, Kantar noted, “High success rates for moose hunters in northern Maine are consistent with what we are seeing with our moose survival study. Adult survival rates are consistently high in our study areas, and calf survival rates are higher in our northern Maine study area compared to our western Maine study area.”

Weather impacted many hunters, particularly in the first week of the season. Moose tend to travel less and spend more time in cover when it’s hot. It was also noted that hunter effort also declines during these periods.

However, despite all the efforts in studying moose, including analyzing blood, hair and fecal samples, and conducting a tick count, there still hasn’t been a way to prevent ticks from killing the moose.

Ticks continue to be a major nuisance in our surroundings. Maybe the answer lies in letting Mother Nature do it on her own, because sometimes human interference does nothing but make things worse.

In my article last week, I explained how it has been found that the presence of opossum could dramatically impact the tick population. But do the opossum have a place in our environment, and would their presence be detrimental to other animals in their respective regions?

The legislature’s IF&W committee has to come up with answers. It would behoove them to roll up their sleeves and get to work.