I’m Just Curious: Take a leap! Parachute not necessary

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 by Debbie Walker

Take a leap, take a chance, take a risk, crawl out of the box, and try something different. You just never know where ideas are going to come from. Some of the neatest things can come from talking to a stranger for just a few minutes in a store. That’s what happened to me one day.

I went to a national chain store; I had an hour to wait for a prescription. I very seldom just roam around the store but today I did. There were two men in the silk flower aisle and yup, I am one of those people if what is going on is interesting, I have to ask. I am glad I did.

These two men were picking out silk flowers that would be used in a class they teach on flower arranging. This particular class is going to be on bridal and wedding arrangements. We wound up exchanging information because I think one day I will have to take one of their classes but it won’t be on bridal arrangements!

When I came home I told my daughter-in-law, Laurie, about these guys. I know she likes dried flowers and arrangements and when I told her about these guys she told me she had always wanted to take a class in flower arranging and in cake decorating.  Gees, take a leap! Go take one, what are you waiting for?

No one is promised tomorrow. We have to do these things now. I think it would be a shame to get to heaven and say, “If I had only taken that flower arranging class I could help decorate around here!” Okay, so my tastes are a little different but when I get there I’ll be able to offer to teach motorcycle!

My mom, who became a widow years ago, was riding by the bowling alley one day, turned around and took herself inside. She figured it would be good exercise for her arms. There was another lady there and mom asked her if she could give her a few pointers. Mom made a friend and found a new hobby and exercise.

There really are more resources out there of things for us to do if we would just open up our eyes and minds. Even if you are not a “group” person there are still plenty of activities to learn for your private enjoyment, ex: flower arranging class.

You don’t have to justify your interests, if something strikes your fancy, check into it. (My friends don’t ride motorcycles!)  If you always wanted to learn a foreign language, go take a class. Don’t be worried about how much you don’t know, that’s what the class is for.

If you are a group person and you have a number of friends, I will be willing to bet that each person probably has some talent or skill they could share. My mom knits and has started a lot of people out, even my friends in Florida. The problem is most people don’t acknowledge their own talents. Each new person you meet will bring something to you to learn.

Keep reading the paper and see what kind of continuing education classes are available that you might be interested in. What about the library? Take an even bigger leap and offer a class yourself. Again you’ll meet new people with new ideas.

Keeping our minds busy and active is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. Keep away that nasty Alzheimer’s disease and depression. The thing is take the leap, take the risk, take a chance, crawl out of your box; you won’t even need a parachute (unless you take up parachuting; now there’s an idea!)

I’m just curious what kind of neat ideas you can come up with. Let me know.

Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com  sub line: Leap. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of September 1, 2016

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by Katie Ouilette

WALLS, you, better than anyone, knows that a daily newspaper is supposed to tell you all the news-of-interest every day. But, some interesting information  came into our possession during Lew’s and my travels from Yarmouth, on Friday. Yes, The Town Line was available to us and, faithful readers, my apologies for saying Gerald Marble was, once, director of the Skowhegan’s State Fair, when, in speaking of son Russell spending his first paycheck on the hand-blown glass boat he purchased for me.  Yes, WALLS, I goofed, because it was Roy Symonds, that I should have given the credit to.  Well, you faithful readers can blame my mistake on my age, but I will say that both Gerald and Roy walked our Skowhegan downtown with the same sense of respect being accorded from town folk. Yes, I do remember both men……..do you?

Another happenstance really awakened my memories when the Woolen Mill in Sangerville was written about in a newspaper. Believe me, WALLS, I thought of the wooden spools on the shelf in our living room that came from the Maine Spinning Company. Maine Spinning’s building still stands on The Island and was significant for the military’s woolen materials made at our American Woolen Mills. Unless you faithful readers are close to my age, you don’t know how important the people who worked in our local mills and shoe factories were in the World Wars.

When Lew and I entered the Red Barn Restaurant, in Augusta, our memories awaked of all wars that our USA has been involved in, as we saw a tribute to Togus and its soon to celebrate its beginning.  Wow, how well I remember being in Garfield School, in Skowhegan, and our marching to downtown with flags in our hands…..flags to be waved as our National Guard had marched from the, once, Baptist Church in Skowhegan’s Bloomfield, ‘the original Skowhegan’ on our town’s Main Street.  Yes, those brave young men were marching to our Maine Central Railroad and the railroad cars that would take them to their ‘shipping-out locale’ and World War II.   Yes, we have our Civil War Governor, Abner Coburn to be grateful to for the MCRR.

At the post office, I received a reunion reminder from my alma mater.  Yes, when Dr. George Young’s daughter attended Colby Junior College, he read the X-rays that had to be taken there for Dartmouth Medical College and, you bet, that brought memories of Dr. Young’s son and his beginning Yonder Hill Campground on the Lakewood Road. Well, faithful readers, most folks couldn’t believe anyone would want to spend time at a campground, but Yonder Hill now has its third owner and it is known as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Yonder Hill.

Y’know, WALLS, don’t you agree that memories that come alive through our years keep us aware of our importance on this trip
through life and, at the same time, understand that  those who don’t have the memories yet, will have them for all their tomorrows.

A few minutes ago I listened to ‘old songs of my era’ on MPTV.  Yes, lots of memories in those songs, too.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of September 1, 2016

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

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

The family of the late Henry and Gertrude (McLaughlin) Smith held their 66th reunion on July 31 at Lake George, in Canaan. The descendants of Gertrude (Smith) Mellows were the host.

There were 38 members and two guests present. The family enjoyed a picnic lunch, with the Mellows family providing the dessert.

Elmer’s family – Eileen Western Cyr and Bert Cyr.

Harry’s family – Lester and Gail Smith, Syvia Brennan and Amelia Brennan.

Agnes’s family – None attended.

Oliver’s family – David Smith, Linda Smith, Craig and Judy Smith, Janice Gorman, John and Sheila (Smith) Callaway, Deanna Gorman, and William Gorman Jr. Guest Rachael Bolba.

Gertrude’s family – Sharon Mellows, Danyel Clark, Rosemary Mellows, Diana Merry, Paul Merry, Nathan Merry, Mary Mellows, Scott Mellows and Amanda Mellows with son Dillinger Mellows, Ross and Rhonda Merry, Jessica Merry and daughter Brooklyn Johnson, Caleb Walker (Michelle’s Son), Henry and Shirley Mellows.

Cecil’s family – None attended.

Clarissa’s family – Joan Steele and Nancy Smellie.

Vincent’s family – Katy Frost and son Griffin Patchell , Anna Meacham, Jim and Lynn Smith. Guest; Mark Martin.

The oldest family member was Rosemary Merry, age 83, and the youngest was Dillinger Mellows, age 3, Rosemary is his great-aunt.

Those from out of state were Sylvia and Amelia Brennan, from Pennsylvania; Paul Merry, from New Hampshire; and Mary Mellows, from Connecticut.

An open house and dedication of the Lexington/Highland Historical Society History House was held on August 20. The history of the project started in 1991, when eight area residents met at the camp of Emmons and Barbara Pinkham and agreed to form an organization committed to preservation of the written records, household furnishings, memorabilia and family histories of Lexington residents. Shortly after this, by-laws were written, nonprofit status was established, and they became incorporated as the Lexington Historical Association. After several unsuccessful attempts to find a “home” or site for building, a small group concentrated on building a collection. An invitation to exhibit at a New Portland Historical Society event as well as the New Portland Fair brought attention to the various resources they had collected. Numerous people stopped by these exhibits, including James and Linda Taylor of Lexington. Jim’s question, “Where do you store all this collection?” The response prompted Jim and Linda to ask if they would be interested in a piece of land to build on. Soon a planning committee was formed, the present site selected, a design based on a homestead that set at the corner of the Back Road and Longfalls Dam Road that burned in 1956, was chosen.

The East Madison Historical Association is having a fall yard and bake sale as well as a book signing on Saturday, September 3,  from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the EMHA building at 1108 East Madison Rd., just north of the village. Proceeds from the sale will benefit EMHA’s building fund.

From 9 a.m. – noon, Bob Clement will be present to sign any and all of his four books, the latest one being, “Are You Going to the Skowhegan Fair?” Books will be for sale during that time as well.

My many, many thanks to those who gave me the above news to share with you this week, it is greatly appreciated !

Percy’s memoir is: “There’s a special art to living, And you need a frame of mind That can overlook the showers, ‘Til the sun begins to shine. To develop to the fullest, You have got to understand, That things don’t always function In the way that they were planned. There’s a special art to living, And the challenge must be met, But the longer that you try it, Why the better you will get. Don’t waste your time in waiting For the world to come to you. You have to climb the mountain, To appreciate the view. (words by Grace E. Easley).

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Should we spend .5 million dollars on parking lot?

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by Al Althenn
Member China Budget Committee

There currently is an initiative underway to push the taxpayers into spending over one half million dollars on a Parking Lot at the North end of the East basin of China Lake. See e-mail transmission underlined below just as it was received from the Town Office by me 8-17-2016:

Please see the attached draft estimate associated with the potential  redesign initiative of the Causeway Road for economic development consideration, and therefore for TIF funding. As noted at TIF Committee meetings, this is a preliminary report and will change over time as the project is perfected to be sent to the Select Board for review and then to the voters.  Spending our money this way one can expect would not only bring about higher taxes but significantly higher boat traffic and other unwanted issues on the lake.

The people paying the big property tax bills investing near the water would get to listen to more boats racing back and forth churning up the already dirty lake water, and would surely be adding to the litter, noise, and congestion, while the whole town has the privilege of paying the bill to support this intrusion. Certainly it would detract from the property values of lake front owners not to forget those near or within ear shot of the lake.

WHY? What do people in China get for this sacrifice in money and peace? Maybe a milfoil infestation.

Please see above mentioned chart below.page3pict1

Red foxes make their presence known

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

When we first moved out to camp for the summer in mid-May, we heard something mysterious on our fourth day out there. It was after dark, and from a distance, we heard a wailing, lamenting  siren-like shriek. Everyone around was wondering what was making that noise. At first we thought it was a small, yiping dog. But it continued almost uninterrupted.

Then, someone mentioned that a family of foxes had been residing under the main office during the winter, and had recently moved out.

red fox

A red fox in the wild. Internet photo

That was it. The sound we heard was that of a red fox. It is common to hear those kinds of cry during the foxes’ breeding season, and thought to be emitted by a vixen’s (female fox) summoning males. Foxes generally greet each other with high pitched whines, particularly submissive animals. During an aggressive encounter they will emit a throaty, rattling sound.

An adult red fox has been identified with 12 different sounds while kits may produce eight.

The red fox, Vulpes vulpes,  is the largest of the true foxes and the most abundant wild member of the species. It is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Besides its large size, red foxes are different from other species because of their ability to adapt quickly to new environments. There are 45 different subspecies of foxes.

A fox

A fox working its way through a trash can in an urban environment. Internet photo

The red foxes have a long history of interacting with humans, having been extensively hunted as a pest and furbearer for many centuries. Because of its widespread range and large population, the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade. Too small to pose a threat to humans, it has successfully colonized many suburban areas.

Urban red foxes are most active at dusk and dawn, doing most of their hunting and scavenging at these times. Despite their search for usable food, foxes tend to eat anything humans eat.

These foxes can cause problems for local folks. Foxes have been known to steal chickens, invade rubbish cans and raise havoc in gardens. In our case, we heard that a nearby neighbor, who kept chickens, had many disappear in a relatively short period of time. They will also prey on domestic rabbits and guinea pigs if they are allowed to run in the open. Urban foxes have been known to encounter cats and may feed alongside of them. In confrontations, cats usually have the upper hand, although foxes have been known to attack cats, not so much for food but rather as a competitor for food.

Red foxes are not readily prone to be infested with fleas.

Red foxes live in family groups, sharing a common territory. They may leave their families once they reach adulthood if the chances of winning a territory of their own are high. Otherwise, they will stay with their parents, postponing their own reproduction.

Red foxes have binocular vision, but their sight reacts mainly to movement.  Their hearing though, is their strength, being able to hear a squeaking mouse at about 330 feet. Their sense of smell is good, but weaker than that of a domestic dog.

Being the largest of the Vulpes genus, on average, an adult male will measure 14-20 inches high at the shoulders, 18-35 inches in body length, and the tails measuring 12-22 inches. Their weight range is 5 – 31 pounds, with vixens weighing 15 – 20 percent less.

Red Foxes are often mentioned in folklore and mythology of human cultures. In Greek mythology, the Teumessian fox or Cadmean vixen, was a gigantic fox that was destined to never be caught. According to  Celtic mythology, witches were thought to take the shape of foxes to steal butter from their neighbors. In later European folklore, the figure of Reynard the Fox symbolizes trickery and deceit.

The red fox originated from smaller-sized ancestors from Eurasia shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation, which took place approximately 85,000 to 11,000 years ago. It was the most recent major advance of the North American ice sheet complex.

At camp, the red foxes have been sighted many times, and because of that, we can’t leave the sliding glass doors open while we are not there. With only the screen door between the outside and inside, our pet rabbit would be fair game for a red fox roaming in the area.

The scent of Dudley – our 9-year-old Holland lop – would probably be too much to resist.

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of August 25, 2016

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, you have so much to tell our faithful readers about, how are you going to write within the word-count?  First, you must thanks Roland Hallee, author of the Scores and Outdoors column in The Town Line newspaper, for telling about the pileated woodpecker.  Yes, they are so beautiful and, frankly, we see them here lakeside only as they migrate and perch on our tree trunks.  And he wasn’t migrating but we loved the visit from Grandson Marc Denis.  He drove to Maine from Virginia and his Sargeant Construction job there, but was here for only a few days. Yes, since his degree from the University of Maine at Orono, he’s definitely made us proud and we see Marc’s ‘Mountain’ on Rte. 2 or Marc’s ‘Hospital’ on Rt.201 when we drive in Maine.

Actually, this has been quite a week, as the family gathered when Elene and George Higgins celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  Yes, and as I looked for a photo in our scrapbooks today, I saw photos of all the young children and grandchildren who have certainly grown up while we grew older!  Did you get that, WALLS?  We grandparents haven’t grown OLD…..but are young-at-heart!

That said, WALLS, you have reawakened a memory about Skowhegan Fair….again.  Well, actually that memory began right here
lakeside as the living room had to have some re-arranging.  Yup, there was the blown-glass boat that was sitting in the fish tank, which was chosen as the best to keep it safe in.  Do you know why that glass boat is so precious in our house?  Well, here we go with memories of Skowhegan Fair again.  It was the days of Gerald Marble’s being the chairman of the fair.  Now, anyone who knew him knew that seldom did anyone speak up to Gerald Marble of the Skowhegan Savings Bank.  Well, son Russell Denis’s first job was at the back gate at the fairgrounds and Mr. Marble appeared without his usual pass.  Now, Russ had been told to never let anyone through unless he/she had a pass.  You’ve guessed it, faithful readers, Russ said ‘sorry,’ and Mr. Marble had to go all the way home for his Pass.

Oh, yes, folks, much was assured over the years that nothing happened to the the blown-glass boat which was purchased for mom with his first paycheck.  Yes, Russ’ cat did jump into the fish tank, but was retrieved without incident, but now, faithful readers, you have heard about one more memory of Skowhegan Fair.

So, faithful readers, always remember your Skowhegan Fair memories……always.  Life is a great trip, but it is the memories that we have from our earliest years that is the magnificent auto by which we travel.

I’m Just Curious: Thank you! Thank you!

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by Debbie Walker

Please bear with me and yet another local article about the lock down at Wal-Mart in the Newport/Palmyra store on Friday, August 19. My big thank yous to the Maine state troopers, local sheriff’s department, Newport police, Wal-Mart staff and management, Dunkin’ Donuts staff, first responders and anyone that I may have left out of this.

With all the craziness in this world today it was wonderful that the whole situation was taken care of with no shots fired. They were able to talk to a distressed, armed man and bring everything to an end, and send the man off for the help he obviously needed.

My friend Kathy and I went in to Wal-mart just before 10 a.m., we were in there for four things. Got right in there, found the things we wanted and were ready to head out. We were headed for the cashiers when a man said, “No need to hurry ladies, we are now on lock down”. Lock down!!!!! You’re kidding, but looking at the people milling around the doors told us he was telling the truth.

Soooo, what to do, so we walked around and the cart grew from four things to a cart load! Someone made the crack that maybe this was Wal-mart’s new marketing plan! I saw a man coming down an aisle with a flat loaded with chairs, didn’t take long to figure out this was going to be a while. So we went to Dunkin’ Donuts for some lunch. They were doing their part of passing out goodies to folks, too.

Most everyone we saw seemed to be trying to make the best out of a bad situation. You have to know no one planned on all that time in there. The staff went around with a cart with water and crackers. Someone else was passing out crayons and paper to the children. How people handle others in strange situations is always of interest to me. I was quite impressed with all the professionalism of all involved.

“Bless his heart,” there was one man in there that had left his dog in the car for a short trip into the store. Needless to say three hours later he is upset. It was towards the end of the ordeal the troopers took him out to bring in the dog and got him water. Kathy and I were feeling bad because that could have been us. Every other day last week we had Toby, her dachshund, with us. Guess we learned an important lesson. Sometimes things just don’t go as planned.
And believe it or not, after spending three hours in Wal-mart on Friday, I still have to go back to do our real grocery shopping. However, I think I will head for Waterville this week.

I’m just curious if we ever show people our true gratitude. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Sub line: Thank you. Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you!

Singer: June Christy; Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

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Peter Catesby  Peter Cates

A wonderful jazz singer of yesteryears.

This is June Christy by June Christy, Capitol T1006, 12-inch mono vinyl LP, recorded 1958.

June Christy

June Christy

The singer June Christy (1925-1990) was one of a very select group of jazz/pop singers who gained the most valuable experience honing and shaping their craft through working with the big bands before their own triumphs in the 1950s and after. Such names would include Peggy Lee, Perry Como, Jo Stafford, Doris Day, Chris Connor, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Sinatra, of course, and Miss Christy.

The album features 12 of the finest examples of craft to be found in the Great American Songbook – the Rodgers and Hart You Took Advantage of Me, Harold Arlen’s Get Happy, the ever joyous Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, Johnny Mercer’s I Never Wanna Look Into Those Eyes Again, Sammy Cahn’s Until the Real Thing Comes Along, etc. Her phrasing, diction, delivery and justly famous husky, wide-ranging soprano voice, along with Pete Rugolo’s spicy, vibrant arrangements, add up to a currently available four  CD set that includes seven other choice LPs, all for about 13 bucks.

A sad footnote – the singer struggled with alcoholism for years until her death from kidney failure in 1990 at the much too young age of 64.

Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D’Or and Russian Easter Orchestra; Balakirev – Islamey; Sir Eugene Goosens conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra; Capitol G 7158, recorded 1959.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsako

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) is perhaps best known for the exceptionally brilliant and colorful four movement showpiece Scheherazade, which will be featured in a future column. This week I am focusing two other similarly masterful staples of his, namely the grandly majestic Russian Easter Overture and the eerie, very evocative Le Coq D’Or, along with the tone poem Islamey by the composer’s older colleague Balakirev. It adds up to a nice program of exhuberant music.

The mono LP showcases the distinguished conductor Sir Eugene Goosens (1893-1962) who came from a sizable family of formidably talented siblings, one sister a harpist who lived  past 100 and a father and grandfather with same name who were accomplished maestros in their day. These performances are competitive with the best since 1959,  and have been reissued on inexpensive CDs still available from internet sites such as Berkshire Record Outlet and the Amazon vendors, though separately with other works.

A postscript – Goosens conducted one or two orchestras in Australia, beginning in 1947, and achieving great success with audiences because of his judicious blend of traditionally popular classics and more modern works, many of which have become firmly established through concerts and recordings in our own time. He also ran afoul of the law and experienced professional disgrace through his involvement with pornography and Satanism, the sordid chronicle being recounted in his Wiki biography.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of August 25, 2016

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

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

Another one of those Mondays when I don’t have very much news to share with you. Some times lately I have received news too late to get it in the column it should be in, my deadline now to receive news for the Thursday paper is Sunday night. My apologies if your news wasn’t printed, just don’t give up on me!     Keystone Chapter #78 O. E. S. in Solon will be meeting on Thursday, September 1, for their monthly meeting. The program is entitled “This is your life!”

The Embden Historical Society will meet on Monday, September 12, at 7 p.m. for their annual meeting, election of officers and committee reports. The program is Show & Tell (members to bring a favorite item.)

Would like to invite those of you who have been painting for awhile, in any medium, to join the fun at Adult Education in Skowhegan starting on Monday, September 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The only cost is a $5 registration fee. Hope all of you who have been coming before are planning another session of fun and learning together, I’ve missed you this summer.

Lief and I traveled up to the “County” last weekend for the annual Washburn Days weekend. We attended the school banquet Friday night that was attended by many who had graduated from the Washburn High School in years past. It is fun to meet his friends and neighbors, and to visit with his family. People are so very friendly up there. The huge parade always follows on Saturday, which is great to watch, then more talking with friends.

Since I didn’t have much local news, I’ve been going through some of my stash to try to find something to give you a good laugh or two. Came across this old (so old that I can’t remember who might have given it to me) piece of paper with these words hand written across the top, “The Future As Seen in 1950. ” And this is their words: “I’ll tell you one thing….if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.’ …”If cigarettes keep going up in price , I’m going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.” (wonder if they quit!)… Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?” …  “The Government is wanting to get its hands on everything. Pretty soon it’s going to be impossible to run a family business or farm.”…”If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.” …  “When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 30 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”… “Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.”   “Also, their music drives me wild. This ‘Rock Around The Clock’ thing is nothing but racket.”   “I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies anymore. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying ‘damn’ in Gone With The Wind,’ it seems every movie has a ‘hell’ or ‘damn’ in it.’…”Also, it won’t be long until couples are sleeping in the same bed in the movies. What is this world coming to?”

Hope you enjoyed the above thoughts by someone 66 years ago! How our world has changed!

Must leave room for Percy’s memoir entitled, Keeping Young. A dear old Quaker lady, distinguished for her youthful appearance, was asked what she used to preserve her charms. She replied sweetly: “I use for the lips, truth; for the voice, prayer; for the eyes, pity; for the hands, charity; for the figure, uprightness; and for the heart, love. (This was taken from one of my old Trotty Veck Message booklet Happy Hours. Does anyone out there know if these little books are still published? If so, would you please let me know. Thanks!).

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of August 18, 2016

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, do we hear what is said or do we interpret a statement as we think it is intended?   WALLS, this 86-years-young was
taught to listen and learn.  Yes, faithful readers who are younger than I am are expected to step into a time-machine and interpret what is said.  Well, my time-machine has a lot more information or actions than our faithful readers who are taken back only 10 or 20 or even 40 or 50 years.  Is this the USA that I grew up in?  Is my USA the one that younger folks wish for or do youngers consider those in my time-machine too old?

Delbert Corson took me back to 1936 and a few years later when he called to say he enjoyed WALLS.  Yes, our time machine took us back to our childhood when kids played hide and seek in the neighborhood or, get this, faithful readers,  ‘chums’ and us playing baseball in Mr. Devall’s cow-pasture, where Skowhegan’s Armory Building now stands.  Yup, I think the cowflaps were our bases!  That pasture on North School Street also was our sledding spot.  Why not?  Mémère Zelie just had to look out the living room window to assure our well-being and the phone number for all the neighborhood had been memorized, just in case a parent was needed.  Ah, Delly (his name to us kids), thanks for the reawakening of memories.

Speaking of ‘memories.’  Have you faithful readers visited the East Madison Historical Museum?  It’s worth the trip, you know.
There is so much memorabilia in that little building next to the East Madison Fire Station and, now, a surprise awaits when the new building that is being built is completed.  Just in case you are taking a ride up the East Madison Road on the first and third Thursdays of the month, stop by and reawake your memories of the area or learn something new.  The time?  1 – 4 p.m., the museum is open .  You may meet old friends Gary Malbon or Alfred Jackson as they drive nails for the new building or local historian Eric Lahti, who is now president.  The next monthly meeting of the EMHA is August 18, at 7 p.m.  Never to be forgotten are Marleen Brooks and the others who meet and create magnificently beautiful patchwork quilts.   The six East Madison Quilters presented the latest quilts that they made for veterans.  Yes, there were tears and applauses-a-plenty on the last day of the annual recent East Madison Days as each veteran was awarded a very special and beautifully designed quilt.  WALLS say ‘Thanks, Ladies, for your hard work and dedication.” And we are sure happy to have Merrit Burpee as a member.  Merrit grew up in East Madison and knows the rules that Lake Wesserunsett folks must follow to maintain its beauty.  Yes, we must be grateful that East Madison is ‘home.’