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SOLON & BEYOND, Week of May 25, 2017

May 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, Solon, 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!

First I want to correct something I wrote about an event that was coming up. The Inside Yard & Bake Sale at the North Anson Congregational Church will not be held on June 3, will try and let you know in time. They had to change the date and I haven’t heard yet when it will be.

And to the new friend in Gardiner who called me after reading about the wonderful store in Portland that I wrote about, my apologies, I have been really busy lately and somehow I lost your telephone number to let you know how to find this extra special haven of art supplies….It is Artist & Craftsman Supply at 540 Deering Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103. Thank you, for calling me, I always like to know how far and wide The Town Line paper is read and enjoyed.

And now for some more interesting news from the Solon Elementary School. Solon students have recently been involved in two challenges – the School Breakfast Challenge and the Maine Milk Challenge. During National School Breakfast Month in March, Solon Elementary School students took the School Breakfast Challenge to see if their school could boost the number of students eating breakfast at school. Every time a student ate breakfast, his/her name went on a ticket.

At the end of the month, there was a drawing for prizes and these were the winners: Hailey Wyman, Abby Leeman, Olive MacDonald, Noah Caldwell, Colton Enos, Stuart Hamblen, Nick Wildes, Alexis Leidy, and Ella McKinnon.

Solon Elementary School was one of five winning schools in the state in the Maine Milk Challenge sponsored by the Maine Dairy Council. This contest was based on the number of cartons of milk students drank at school for breakfast, snack or lunch.

A representative from the Maine Dairy Council, Katie Hoffman, visited the school on April 12 to present some bookmarks and bags for students and a new apron and hat with a cow theme for Cindy Lawrence who is the cook.

Four Solon students are the winners of district academic achievement awards this spring based on their scores on last spring’s 2015-16 Maine Educational Assessment. Each winner received a certificate, a check for $50, and his/her name on a plaque at CCS.

Of the seven awards presented to district students in grades 3-5, five of those were won by students from Solon. Here are the winners: Grade 3 Math – Desmond Robinson, Grade 3 Reading – Desmond Robinson. Grade 4 Math – Sascha Evans; Grade 4 Reading – Jayden Cates. Grade 5 Science – Laci Dickey.

Math and Reading awards are given each year to a third, a fourth, and a fifth grader in RSU #74 who scored the highest on the MEA. One science award is given to the student who scored the highest on the fifth grade science MEA. The math awards are sponsored by Mr. Chet Hickox, the reading awards by the three K-5 PTO’s, and the science awards by Mrs Sara Hickox.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Beginning on Memorial Day and running through Labor Day, Happyknits will be joining with over a dozen other locally-owned yarn shops throughout Maine in their first-ever statewide crawl. This is a fun way for people who love yarn to hit the road and get to know about the different small yarn shops tucked away all over Maine. A cruise on Casco Bay is being planned for the end of the event for any “crawlers” who wish to go. For more information you can stop in at Happyknits in Skowhegan. It really sounds fun.

Pauline Mayhew was treated on Mothers Day by her husband Harold and son Philip to a delicious seafood dinner at the Lobster Trap Restaurant, in Winslow. Later they traveled to Dexter where the Vietnam Wall Memorial was on display. Harold also found out that he won the Easter Scramble contest in the Morning Sentinel.

And so for Percy’s memoir entitled, “The Measure of Life.” Knowing that life is not measured by the breath we take. Do as the little inch worm does and find beauty along the way. Seeing joys and wonders so simple they cause our soul to ache Treasuring each single moment that takes our breath away. This was found on a tiny piece of cardboard and the lettering was very hard to read, I couldn’t read whoever thought up those wonderful words, but Percy and I thought they were very inspiring.

I’m Just Curious: Amazing uses, Part 2

May 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, I’m Just Curious/by Debbie Walker

by Debbie Walker

I promised more uses for Lemons, I also found more of the salt, baking soda vinegar, olive oil and Lord only knows what else I have coming. I swear this stuff finds its way to me! True confession is that I haven’t used all these “uses”.

Keep lemons at room temp. it’ll give you more juice. Even better roll, with some strength, the lemon between your hands and counter top. Had not heard this one before but one teaspoon lemon juice, one teaspoon honey, one cup, it’s supposed to keep your digestion moving, drink every morning. Whiten teeth with half a teaspoon lemon juice, half a teaspoon salt, one cup warm water. Dissolve salt into water; add lemon juice, swish in mouth for one minute, then rinse.

Get rid of old bumper stickers, soak a rag in full strength white vinegar, saturate the sticker, let stand 10 minutes then scrub off. Wipe down windshields with full strength white vinegar. It will remove old bird droppings. Pour full strength white vinegar into spray bottle, spritz over exposed skin and clothing to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Discourage patio weeds from growing between pavers by pouring baking soda into spaces. Eliminate greasy stains in the garage by pouring baking soda on stain; dip brush in water and use it to scrub. Freshen up your car by sprinkling baking soda over seat and floor mats. Let stand overnight then vac it up.

I found this section of another book and I found it interesting:

Bottles for Boots: One liter and other sized plastic bottles are perfect for propping up leather boots. (I already bought things for my boots. Wish I had seen this before!)

Dryer lint: lint you have cleaned out of the dryer you can use as kindling for a fireplace or wood stove.

Guitar pick? Need one? Instead of buying, substitute the plastic fasteners on bread bags. Let me know if it works.

Tennis balls: throw a few old tennis balls into your pool; they will absorb oil from sweat and sunscreen.

Tire pool: You may not have to hunt for a pool. Instead of buying wading pool you can use a big truck tire. Just drape a shower curtain over the tire. Push it down in the center.

Packing peanuts: they last forever so use them in the bottoms of your plant pots for drainage and it makes the pot a lot lighter to handle than rocks.

Just a note: between two and five percent of what we throw away each day is potentially reusable.

Plant food: water from boiling potatoes and pasta. Even the water from a fish tank is reusable, has its own fertilizer!

Okay, I am running out of words so I will finish this by asking you if you would e-mail me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com sub: Uses. Let me know what you tried and how it worked out: Because you know I’M JUST CURIOUS!

see Part 1 here!

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Kodaly, Ella Fitzgerald, & The Pelican Brief

May 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, Review Potpourri/by Peter Cates

REVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates

Kodaly

Hary Janos Suite; Respighi: Feste Romane- Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra; RCA Victor LM-1973, 12-inch vinyl mono LP, released 1956.

Zoltan Kodaly

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) was, arguably, one of the four best known conductors of the 20th century, the others being Leopold Stokowski, Arthur Fiedler, and Leonard Bernstein (these three definitely being subjects for later columns.) . That said, it now occurs to me I did a column devoted to the Maestro’s wide influence a while ago. Therefore, I move on to this week’s record.

The featured pieces are the Hary Janos Suite, composed in 1926 by Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967), and Feste Romane, from 1928 and composed by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) . Along with his lifelong friend, Bela Bartok, Kodaly was one of Hungary’s two best known 20th century composers. Hary Janos is a mythical character who proceeds to run off with Napoleon’s wife, Marie-Louise, and unleashes a series of near-lethal events before he miraculously makes things right. The Suite is a colorful piece of orchestral virtuosity.

In 1959, Kodaly’s first wife of 48 years died; he then married a 19-year-old student, with a 58 year age difference, and both were one happy couple (supposedly) until his own death in 1967, one year after a concert tour in the U.S.
Respighi’s Feste Romane evokes the spirit of Roman history from ancient times onwards – the spiritual pilgrimages to the Holy City, the romance of October Festival, the Circuses with their just plain fun-loving folks taking in the feasting of savage lions on the martyrs, etc.

Both works have immense potential appeal for beginning classical listeners and Toscanini’s conducting bristles with excitement.

Ella Fitzgerald

with Nelson Riddle’s arrangements and conducting; Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson; Verve V6-4054, 12-inch stereo vinyl LP, recorded 1962.

Ella Fitzgerald

The words Swings Brightly do not hint at the supremely splendid, vibrant excitement of this album. As far as I am concerned, Ella Fitzgerald sings renditions of the 12 songs contained here that have been rarely surpassed by anyone for power, beauty, elegance and all the other grossly overused synonyms for musical pleasure; and Nelson Riddle’s arrangements are those of once in a lifetime. Simply try Duke Ellington’s I’m Gonna Go Fishing, which I shared on my fb home page from YouTube, where it can be easily heard!

Pelican Brief

starring Julia Roberts, etc.; directed by Alan J. Pakula; Warner Brothers, 1993, 141 minutes.

Two Supreme Court justices of radically different ideologies are murdered on the same day. Thus no common thread is found to launch any type of investigation, until a Louisiana law student, Darby Shaw (played by Ms. Roberts), shows a brief to her professor who passes it along to a friend at the Justice Department.

Julia Roberts

All hell breaks loose for her – her car explodes, killing her professor inside who was borrowing it; she is pursued by killers from out of nowhere and doesn’t know who to trust. It’s 141 minutes of cat and mouse paranoia adding up to a most entertaining film. The late Hume Cronym does a captivating turn as one of the two murdered judges.

PERFORMANCE DOG: Big news about rally obedience

May 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, Training Your Dog/by Website Editor

TRAINING YOUR PERFORMANCE DOG

by Carolyn Fuhrer

Since its introduction in 2005, Rally has grown in popularity. Rally is a course set up consisting of signs indicating skills in a numerical order which the dog and handler must perform.

You are allowed to talk to your dog and praise your dog throughout the entire course. There are currently three levels – Novice, which is performed on leash; Advanced and Excellent (which are off leash). Each class contains progressively more difficult obedience skills and the advanced and excellent classes require the dog to jump. You can earn a title in each class: Rally Novice, RN; Rally Advanced, RA; Rally Excellent, RE. There is an RAE title that can be earned by passing an advanced and excellent course on the same day on 10 different days.

Beginning in November, 2017 there will be two new classes introduced as well as a rally championship title, or RACH (sounds like rock).

The Rally Intermediate class (RI) has been created to provide another on-leash class that requires advanced skills, which will help teams prepare for the off leash performance required in the advanced class. This class will mirror the advanced class but will not contain a jump. After you have completed a Rally Novice title you may choose to enter Rally Intermediate or Rally Advanced. A Rally Intermediate (RI) title is not required to go into Rally Advanced.

There will also be a new master class and associated title RM with 22 NEW exercises, some of which ae very challenging.

Several new exercises have been added to the existing Rally classes and handlers should be aware of these as they may be included in classes after November 1. Novice has 6 new signs and Advanced and Excellent class each have 5 new signs. The wording on some of the signs has also changed.

To earn a RACH – Rally Championship title – teams are required to earn 20 triple qualifying scores; qualifying in the Advanced B, Excellent B and Master classes at the same trial at 20 separate events, plus earn 300 RACH points from the Excellent B and Master classes. Points are determined by a dog’s score. For example: a 91-96 would earn 1 point; a 97 would earn 2 points; 98 would earn 3 points; 99 would earn 4 points and a score of 100 would earn 5 points.

There will be much to learn to be successful in Rally after November 1. If you are looking for help, check out Mid Coast Kennel Club of Maine and North Star Dog Training School. They will be working together to present a series of Spring and Summer workshops to prepare handlers and dogs for all the new skills that will be required to enjoy showing in Rally Obedience with your dog.

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 90 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

GARDEN WORKS: Gathering what nature provides in springtime, part 1

May 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, Garden Works/by Emily Cates

GARDEN WORKS

by Emily Cates

Part 1 of 2

Who does not love a beautiful day in Springtime? The floral-laden scent of a spring breeze uplifts and awakens the senses, while the singing birds and buzzing bees provide a beguiling resonance. Who would not enjoy these wonders of nature at such a glorious time of year? Many of us, still weary from a long winter, do appreciate it wholeheartedly. In addition to the promise of a fresh new gardening season, there is also a harvest to be had. “What? A harvest? Why, the peas have barely started growing!” “We just planted our potatoes. How could anything be ready? ”

A few familiar garden veggies, such as carrots and parsnips, can be overwintered and dug up now. Asparagus, the perennial whose crisp, succulent spears are enjoyed as they appear and grow to harvestable heights, is most likely ready to be cut at the present. In this article, though, we’ll look at lesser-known offerings that can be found in the garden or nearby, this time of year. These beloved wild edibles such as, dandelions, fiddleheads, groundnut, Jerusalem artichokes, nettles, and ramps are provided by nature and have been enjoyed by many folks for millennia. They are likely encountered as weeds in the garden or discovered as wild plants while hiking. It’s these “others” that are often overlooked, rather unjustly, as they are some of the most nutritious additions to a springtime diet.

Let’s get ready to explore! Because there is a lot of information in this article, lets do it in two parts. This time, we will look at what I’ll call “The Forager’s 10 Commandments.” Next time, we’ll go over the wild edibles mentioned above and noteworthy qualities and cooking suggestions. Be ready to be curious and maybe try something new and exciting!

Before we begin our exciting excursion into the wild world of foraged foods, I would like to share with you The Forager’s 10 Commandments. Number One, it’s important to be certain of the identification of what we’re harvesting. Bring a field guide and a Smartphone to look things up. Two, we want to forage only in areas we have permission to be in. Three, we should make sure the soil it is growing in is un-polluted (at least 30 feet away from the road or buildings that might have lead paint or any other chemical concerns). Four, let’s guarantee the continuity of what we intend to harvest and take only what we actually need, leaving enough for the plant to regenerate itself. (Of course, exceptions would be weeds like dandelion and nettles.) Five, try unfamiliar foods in small amounts for the first and second times to rule out allergies. Six, watch out for ticks and be sure to wear a hat and light-colored, long-sleeved clothing tucked into tall boots if possible. Natural bug-repellant might be on the list as well, be sure to follow directions on the container. (Do tick checks when you get home!) Seven, don’t get lost. Eight, bring something for hydration and a snack if it’s a hike. Nine, bring a friend for company if at all possible. Ten, share a meal with someone less fortunate who would appreciate what you have harvested. The unwritten rule is to have fun and enjoy nature to the fullest!

Read Part 2 here!

Give Us Your Best Shot! Week of May 18, 2017

May 19, 2017/0 Comments/in Give Us Your Best Shot!/by Website Editor

LOON WAGGLE: Emily Poulin, of China, captured this loon foot waggle last fall.

JAYS ARE BACK: Michael Bilinsky, of China Village, photographed this bluejay at his feeders recently.

FIRST ORIOLE: Betty Dunton, of Gardiner, snapped the first Baltimore Oriole she has seen this spring.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Those lovable little critters announcing spring’s arrival

May 17, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, Scores & Outdoors/by Roland D. Hallee

SCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee

Camp is open! Last Friday and Saturday my wife and I worked diligently to get things squared away at camp. Open the shelter, put away necessities for the summer, arrange outdoor furniture, check out the grill, etc. It was a busy two days, and Saturday night we finally sat down around the first campfire of the year.

Before I proceed, let me set the scene.

Next to our camp is a rather large gully that drains spring runoff from the top of the hill down to the lake. Just before you get to the pond, there is a large swampy area.

OK, got it? So there we are sitting around the campfire. At sunset came the sounds for which we have been waiting. The peepers. The unmistakable sound of spring. If you live east of the Mississippi River, you have definitely heard the sound of hundreds of chirping frogs.

A spring peeper, left, and one with its vocal sac inflated. Internet photos

While spring peepers are the most famous of all the frogs, they’re not the only species native to North America. Spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer, exist in the eastern half of North America from Florida to Canada. You can distinguish the spring peepers, also known as chorus frogs, because their noise sounds very much like jingling bells when there are a lot of them around.

If you have ever seen a spring peeper, you have probably noticed a peculiar bubble that forms around the frog’s mouth. The bubble is actually the frog’s vocal sac. To make their calls, peepers close their nostrils and mouths and squeeze their lungs to inflate the sac. The peeping sound happens as air leaves the lungs, passes over the vocal chords and into the vocal sac.

The sounds they produce are mating calls emanating from the males, which are made from the edges of the bodies of water in which they breed. Even when calling, peepers may be difficult to locate. They typically breed from March to June when the warm rains start. The female will lay around 900 eggs, but up to 1,000 are possible. Egg clusters are hidden under vegetation, and they transform into frogs about eight weeks following the hatching.

Their environment includes marshy areas, especially wooded wetlands and swampy areas near forested areas because they like to hibernate under tree bark or fallen logs. Thus, the perfect habitat is what I described earlier.

They are an extremely small frogs, reaching a maximum size of about 1-1/2 inches and weigh about 0.18 ounces. Because of their diminutive size, they feed on small bugs like ants, small beetles, flies and spiders. They have large toe pads for climbing, although they generally spend their time amid loose debris.

Spring peepers are nocturnal and do most of their hunting at night.

Peepers, are among the first frogs in the region to call in the spring, and will make their first appearance shortly after ice goes out on the wetlands.

How to identify a peeper? That’s easy. They are tan or brown in color with a dark X-shaped marking across their back. Now, go out and try to find one.

The spring peeper has no special endangered status in most areas. They are common and widespread over the region. However, their habitats are quickly changing due to loss of wetlands. In some areas, their populations have decreased significantly. Where have we heard that before?

If you get the chance, spend an evening outside listening to the sounds of spring, and among them you will hear the chirps of these amazing little frogs.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of May 18, 2017

May 17, 2017/0 Comments/in Columns, Solon, 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!

Yip-e-e-e! I am so happy, as of last Thursday, I now have a driver’s license again! I had been without one since my birthday, and it was a terrible feeling not to be able to drive legally for two weeks, and I surely didn’t want to see my name in the police log!

Was thrilled to receive the Solon School News and let all you interested readers know that an assembly was held at the Solon School on April 26 announcing the Coolidge Library Bookmark Contest winners. They are Elizabeth Berube, Preschool; Maxxwell Caplin, Grade K; Lane Frost, Grade 1; Emerson Golden, Grade 2; William Rogers, Grade 3; Ciara Myers- Sleeper; Grade 4; and Sascha Evans, Grade 5.

The contest was a joint project of Solon Elementary School and the Coolidge Public Library, in Solon. Each student in grades PreK-5 created a bookmark promoting reading. The contest was judged by Coolidge librarian Megan Myers and RSU #74 art teacher Richard Reichenbach.

At the assembly, each winner received a book from Ms. Myers and library trustee Rich Roberts. The Solon selectwomen Elaine Aloes and Sarah Davis also attended the assembly.

The winning bookmarks were duplicated and will be handed out to patrons at the town library. Congratulations to the winners!

The third quarter honor roll at Solon Elementary is as follows: All A’s: Emily Baker, Jayden Cates, Cooper Dellarma, Gavyn Easler, Sascha Evans, William Lawrence, Summer Lindblom, Aiden McLaughlin, Macie Plourde, Desmond Robinson, William Rogers, Aaron Soosman, Hailey Wyman and Dystany Young. All A’s& B’s: Karen Baker, Delena Cabral, Tehya Caplin, Sarah Craig, Alex Enos, Reid Golden, Riley Graham, Courtney Grunder, Nevaeh Holmes, Elisha Ireland, Cody James, Ella McKinnon, Abby Parent, Paige Reichert, Alyssa Schinzel, Brooks Sousa, Fisher Tewksbury, Lucas Vicneire and Ciarrah Whiiemore.

Winners of the Sea Dogs Most Improved Student Awards were Veronica Hoffman, Riley Graham,Cooper Dellarma, Abby Parent, Brooks Sousa, Hunter Pouliot, Paul Craig and Abby Leeman.

Kindergarten students at Solon Elementary School enjoyed the Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit at the Portland Science Center on April 13.

Solon Elementary School celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with lots of special activities back in March. These included daily guest readers, dress-up days, crafts and games, and even a Dr. Seuss-themed lunch. We thank Mrs. Jen LaChance for organizing the week’s events.

The North Anson Congregational Church will be having an indoor yard and bake sale at the church on Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Missionary Charles Sagay, from Cameroon, Africa, will be at the North Anson Congregational Church to share the gospel and more about what is happening at the Mission School of Hope. Charles arrived on May 15, and will be staying with Pastor Dave and Mary. Please consider yourself invited to come and get to know this wonderful man and become a part of the Mission School of Hope.

There will be a $1 and $2 clothing bag sale at the Embden Community Center Thrift Shop on May 19 and 20.

Don’t forget the special Solon Town Meeting on Monday, May 22, at the Solon Elementary School at 7 p.m. This will be to vote on the four items I wrote about recently. I was unable to attend the budget committee meeting on May 8 because that night was our last meeting of this session of my adult painting club at Skowhegan, and we always have a party. The only thing I heard about the budget meeting from one of the members, was that there was quite a bit of discussion about article 2, the sidewalks on Pleasant and School streets.

And now for Percy’s memoir which has to do with Love which he had a lot of: Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well. (Unknown)

Until next week….