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SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 13, 2016

October 13, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns, Solon/by Website Editor

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

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

Historian Steve Pinkham will discuss the naming of the Carrabassett at the Stewart Public Library in North Anson on October 17, at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend this well-researched topic.
Received an e-mail from the Somerset Woods Trustees…I don’t know about you, but every time I go to a store, I either have forgotten my reusable bags or I don’t have enough. Here’s your chance to stock up on a few extra to keep in your car so you will always have enough when needed and help Somerset Woods Trustees improve our preserves for you and our communities.

“Launch Day’ for the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program was the first day of October. They have the entire month of October, in which they will receive $1 from each blue Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag purchased at the Skowhegan Hannaford location.

Please show your support by purchasing these beautifully designed, blue reusable bags with the good karma messaging at Hannaford! They can be found at the reusable bag rack and various registers.

These bags are much stronger than most and hold more groceries!

The ‘modest’ goal is to sell 1,000 bags but they have only the month of October. Went up to Bingham one day recently to see if I could find out information about the wind tower project. It is just about completed and was told that the small trailers used for offices will be moved and the building on Rte. 201 which was used as head quarters will be vacant by November 1.

The project to erect 56 towers took around two years to complete, and 80 percent of the workers employed were from Maine.

You can see many of these approximately 330-foot tall towers as you travel up Route 16 from Moscow to Kingsbury. They held up traffic in some of Maine’s rural roads, especially on corners, getting to their final destination.

I told two of the ones I talked to about going for a ride and seeing the huge blades turning very, very slowly when there wasn’t even a breeze blowing. How they laughed, they said up where the towers were there definitely was wind blowing!

One of the guys that I talked with was Dominique Cyr, he is the project engineer, and his words were, “It’s nice to see them all running when they are done.”

Don’t know how many of you may have seen Dan Cassidy’s column INside the OUTside, when he wrote about this same project in The Town Line. He called it, Bingham, Mayfield and Kingsbury become wind power sites in his article back in July. It was very interesting and informative.

Percy’s memoir this week is… New Beginnings. How often we wish for another chance To make a fresh beginning, A chance to blot out our mistakes And change failure into winning – And it does not take a new year to make a brand new start, To try with all your heart To live a little better And to always be forgiving And to add a little “sunshine” To the world in which we’re living – So never give up in despair And think that you are through, For there’s always a tomorrow And a chance to start anew. (words by Helen Steiner Rice.)

Effort underway to improve cottontail habitat

October 13, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns/by Website Editor

by Roland D. Hallee

I was encouraged to hear recently of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s renewed effort to create more habitat for the New England Cottontail.

New England cottontails, Sylvilagus transitionalis, were once a common sight along the coast, but as old fields turned to forest, and farmland became developed, habitat for this distinctively New England species diminished and their numbers declined. New England cottontails need shrub lands and young forests to thrive.

At one time, the New England cottontail was the only rabbit east of the Hudson River, until the Eastern cottontail was introduced in the late 1800s.

Until the 1950s, the New England cottontail was considered the more abundant species in New England. By the 1960s, biologists noticed that the Eastern cottontail was replacing the New England cottontail throughout New England.

New England Cottontail

Today, the Eastern cottontail is far more abundant, except in Maine, where the New England cottontail remains the only rabbit. But, it is confined to southern Maine. It is still found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York, however, the species range had been reduced by more than 80 percent by 1960. Today, the New England cottontail’s range is 86 percent less. The numbers are going in the wrong direction.

Because of this decline in numbers, the New England cottontail is a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Cottontail hunting has been restricted in some areas where the Eastern and New England cottontails coexist in order to protect the New England cottontail populations.

According to at least one study the cottontails’ historic range also included a small part of southern Québec, from which it is extirpated.

In order to merely survive, a single New England cottontail requires at least two-and-a-half acres of suitable habitat. For long-term security and persistence, 10 rabbits need at least 25 acres. Over the last 100 years, forests throughout New England have aged. As shade from the canopy of mature trees increases, understory vegetation thins and no longer provides sufficient New England cottontail habitat.

Eastern Top, New England below

It’s not easy to distinguish the difference between Eastern and New England cottontails. The New England cottontail has shorter ears, slightly smaller body size, a black line on the anterior edge of the ears, a black spot between the ears and no white spot on the forehead. The skulls of the two species are also quite different and are a reliable means of distinguishing the two.

The major factor in the decline of the New England cottontails is habitat destruction from the reduced thicket habitat. Before Europeans settled, the New England cottontails were likely found along river valleys, where disturbances in the forest, such as beaver activity, ice storms, hurricanes and wildfires promoted thicket growth. Development has eliminated a large portion of that habitat.

However, there are other factors in the equation:

The introduction of more than 200,000 Eastern cottontails, mostly by hunting clubs, greatly harmed the New England cottontail because the Eastern cottontails are more diverse in their diet. They also have a slightly better ability to avoid predators. Known predators of the New England cottontail include birds of prey, coyotes, Canadian lynx and bobcats. To avoid predators, New England cottontails run for cover, “freeze” and rely on their cryptic coloration; or, when running, follow a zig-zag pattern to confuse the predator. Because New England cottontail habitat is small and has less vegetative cover, they must forage more often in the open, leaving them vulnerable.
The introduction of invasive plant species such as multiflora rose, honeysuckle bush anbd autumn olive in the 20th century may have displaced many native species that provided food for the New England cottontails.
An increase in population and density of white-tailed deer in the same range as the New England cottontails also damaged populations, because deer eat many of the same plants and damage the density of understory plants providing vital thicket habitat.

That’s why the plan to create more habitat for the New England cottontail in the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a step in the right direction to restore the species to its historic numbers.

I’m Just Curious: Mae West

October 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns/by Website Editor

by Debbie Walker

I cannot really explain why my mind goes off in all these different directions. I have to admit it is kind of fun.

So… today my interest is Mae West. I saw a cartoon this past week and it included one of her famous quotes. The quote was, “I speak two languages, English and Body!” I never met Mae West, not even sure that I saw more than a blip of any movie or show she did. What I do know is I believe I would have enjoyed her attitude.

There may be some today who still think she was over the top with some of her actions. I am truly hoping that the person she was in film or shows was truly her personality and from some things I read today it looks like she was!

Some of her sayings:

“I used to be Snow White, but then I drifted!”

“Sex is emotion in motion.”

“When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad I’m better.”

“It’s not what I do but the way I do it. It’s not what I say, but the way I say it.”

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

“I’ve been in more laps than a napkin.”

“Don’t keep a man guessing too long – he’s sure to find the answer somewhere else.”

I skipped around the internet looking for Mae West information and there was plenty of it. There are little videos that gave me a bit more info and to experience some of her acting. She wrote her own plays, that’s right, all those years and years ago Mae West was ahead of the game, she wrote her own plays. She had to, I imagine. I am not sure there was anyone at that time who would put out a new product so risqué.

I have always been attracted to “feisty old broads” and they would know who they are but most sadly are gone now. One woman I met was a “fan dancers,” and if we really pushed she would do one or two of them for us. I used to work with a woman who had a reputation of having a drink, a cigarette and belt out some old English pub songs. I missed those days, I met her when her drinking and smoking days were over but she could still tell some pretty good stories.

I think I secretly hope to be referred to when I’m dead and gone as “Some character.” If you get a chance look up some of Mae’s entertaining. It was pretty neat. I think I may become a president of her fan club.

I’m just curious if you would see the humor as I did. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com sub: Mae. Hope you enjoyed!!!

Just a note: The first grade class is writing a book. The teacher told them Friday that I am a published author. I showed them the column and their first words were, “why is there no picture of you.” I explained to them I wanted words more than my picture.” Hope you understand, too.

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of October 6, 2016

October 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns/by Website Editor

by Katie Ouilette

WALLS and faithful readers, are you ready for what has been going on again with a historical society? Wow, busy folks and this time, WALLS, you have Madison to brag about. What’s more, for sure you are going to hear some very surprising information about Norridgewock.

Lew had gone to the races at the last day of Farmington Fair and, since word had been out that an author of the book In the Shadow of the Steel Cross would be at the Madison Historic Museum, at one time, had been Old Point Avenue School. What a great historical display the members of the Madison Museum’ Historical Society have done to bring history of Madison and vicinity alive for anyone visiting the Museum.

First, WALLS, tell about what awaits folks at the museum. No, no, no….those cookies and other goodies on the table are not available for every visitor’s enjoyment, but these wonderful refreshments were available for everyone who came to hear author Louise Ketchum Hunt tell of Father Sebastian Rasle, S.J., Mission in Norridgewock, after immigrating to our United States from France 250 years ago. Folks from Madison know that our Catholic Church is named Sebastian Rasle Church and the, once, church school was named Father Rasle School. But, do you Madisonites know how the village of Norridgewock, the British, the French all figured prominently in our history with the Wabanaki and Abenaki Indian tribes.

This is a fascinating book and Louise Ketchum Hunt, of Indian heritage, so graciously tells the story of Father Rasle and the frightening story of how her heritage was affected……….all the way to Father Rasle’s being murdered with Indian chies huddled next to him to protect him. Yes, the famous Father Rasle, while WALLS is not trying to convert believers to Catholicism, WALLS do know that Father Rasle’s history in our area is something we of every age must be aware.

A few weeks ago, we drove to Eustis, when we heard that the historical society there would be featuring the Brittish’ going to Canada. We certainly were impressed with the displays of history there, but when we saw the name of our one-and-only Andrew Redmond so prominently displayed, we thought of his son’s story about the house he and his wife own on the Norridgewock Road, in Skowhegan. True, that location is not mentioned in the book by Ms. Hunt, but somehow, WALLS, do you think the famous spring of which he has spoken figured into the Norridgewock attacks? Yes, there was an attack several times on Norridgewock Village.

In closing, WALLS, why don’t you tell about the name of the book by Mrs. Hunt? The name: In the Shadow of the Steel Cross. Father Rasle Road is off the Norridgewock-Madison Road and you faithful readers may wish to visit the Father Rasle Cemetery.

Orchestra leader Michel Legrand; Film: London Has Fallen

October 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns/by Website Editor

by Peter Cates

Castles in Spain
Michel Legrand and his Orchestra; Columbia – CL 888, mono 12-inch vinyl LP,
recorded 1956.

Now 84 years old, Michel Legrand is one of the most interesting all-around musicians/arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, to impact the American music scene since his 1956 Columbia LP, I Love Paris, which has sold several million copies and is on CD. The wiki biography does a pretty thorough job documenting his accomplishments and is worthwhile reading. I will say that his most well known song is The Windmills of your Mind from the 1968 version of The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.

Michel Legrand

Castles in Spain is a beautifully-scored musical collage of Spain and her expressive dimensions and moods. He includes several well known pieces of music – Espana, Malaguena, Jungle Drums, Andalucia, etc. – and re-works them with the freshest, most alive treatments, a main quality of his music-making, whether applied here or to his own compositions. Several selections from the LP can be heard on Youtube while the entire album has also been reissued on a still available CD.

London Has Fallen
Starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, etc.; directed by Babak Najafi; produced by Millenium Films, 99 minutes, released 2016.

As a sequel to 2013’s Prometheus Has Fallen (which I have not seen), this film caters to the huge demand for cathartic blockbusters featuring supermannish secret agent heroes versus terrorist blood suckers. Nine out of ten of these flicks are quite forgettable but still have their two- or three-day cash cow run at the local Flagship. And I will be the first to admit that I do have a taste for these entertainments! page9pict2

A British prime minister has died so several world leaders will be attending the funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral, including U.S. President Benjamin Asher (competently played by Aaron Eckhart). For purposes of security, his entourage arrives ahead of schedule with his favorite SS agent, and best friend, Mike Manning (Gerard Butler) right by his side. Without going into ad nauseam detail, their arrival in London is greeted by the split second unleashing of apocalyptic mayhem. Naturally, Manning and the president are reduced by the carnage, thanks to the agent’s own gifts of strength, speed, quick thinking and extremely preternatural intuition, to being just about the only survivors of the entourage but inevitably reduced, for the remainder of the film, to hopscotching around the besieged city by foot and the occasional stolen vehicle. Enough of the details.

I admit to a certain restlessness during my Netflix viewing but stayed the course, assigning a definite C to C-minus to this cinematic excursion.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 6, 2016

October 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns, Solon/by Website Editor

by 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 September 17 with President Adam Peters presiding. The members have exhibited in four fairs this year and have done very well.

This being the last meeting of 2015-2016 year the members worked on their record sheets. The members voted to display their projects at the Coolidge Library in observance of National 4-H Club week.

After the meeting the club members went to North Star Orchard. They enjoyed a wagon ride and picked a bag of apples for themselves.

A re-dedication of the North Anson Congregational Church was held on September 25, at the church. Every Thursday, there is Bible study at 11:30 a.m., and choir rehearsal at 6:45 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. A potluck luncheon followed the service.

This is more news from the Solon School newspaper: Students in grades K-1 will be given the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment in September to help identify students who might need extra help to enable them to reach benchmarks for their grade level in reading by the end of the year. They will be assessed again in January and May.

All first grade students are given the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) to help monitor their reading achievement and design programs to increase their reading skills. These tests are also given to new students and those who have received Title 1 services in the past.

All students in grades K-5 took the Measures of Academic Progress from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) last spring. This test will be given again in reading and math in the spring to assess students’ progress over the course of the school year. Kindergartners and new students will take the test this fall, and teachers can choose to test their students in the fall and winter if they wish to do so to monitor students’ progress.

In the spring, the students in grades 3-5 will participate in the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA), taking tests in reading, writing, and math. Fifth graders also take a science test.

The Solon Fire Department Auxiliary will be having a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, October 8, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the Solon Elementary School. There will be a door prize and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds will benefit the Solon Fire Department.

And so I leave you with Percy’s memoir once more in hopes of cheering you. It is entitled, Measure Your Lifetime in Blessings: “Measure your lifetime in blessings, Not in the years you have known… Count up the number of people you’ve touched, Add up the love you have shown… Measure your days in the gladness That you and your loved ones have shared … Tally the smiles on the faces of friends, Total the times you have cared … Yes, measure your lifetime in blessings, And you’ll always remain in your prime – For youth is a feeling you keep in your heart, Whether 7 or 79.” (words by Larry Sandman)

Blessings are where we least expect them! The other day Lief and I were in Ken’s having lunch, and as he always does, he had said the blessing before we ate. A couple came up to our table and the woman grabbed Lief’s hand , and sincerely thanked him for saying the blessing. That is the second time this has happened, when people that we don’t know, (the other time was up in the ‘County’) stop and comment about the blessing. With God, having been taken out of so many things, I’m not surprised at their caring, and it does mean so much

The end is near: of the growing season, that is

October 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Columns/by Website Editor

by Emily Cates

Were you caught off guard the other night when we got our first frost? I’ll admit I was a bit. As gardeners in northern climates well know, the first frost, no matter how mild, signals the imminent end of a growing season and the beginning of a whole new array of garden activities. Let’s take a look of some of them, including pre-frost roundups and post-frost clean-ups.

Of course, it is best to know when the frost is on its way a night or so before it happens, so that sensitive fruits and veggies like tomatoes, watermelons, eggplants, and peppers can be harvested and brought into a space above freezing temperatures. From there, we can put them into cold storage or process them into all sorts of goodies. Helpful hints: If the fruits (like tomatoes) aren’t quite ripe, it’s oftentimes helpful to pull the whole plant and hang it in a barn or shed or similar place. You might get more to ripen successfully this way than if you just harvested the fruits by themselves. Also, if the frost is light, the season might be extended simply by throwing a blanket over the plants at night. Keep in mind the benefits of cold frames, as easy as a storm window set on a frame of hay bales.

Once we get a frost, there’s no turning back. Sometimes you’ll find fruits, hiding in grass or under the cover of leaves, that are still good. However, if they succumb to the freezing temperatures, it will be obvious. Those with the characteristic frost damage will only be fit for the King of a Compost Pile. Render these “offerings” as part of the garden cleanup that should accompany a frost.

Probably one of the most important things you can do for your garden right now is to ensure the proper clean-up and disposal of garden debris. Pests and pestilence will find a happy home in a garden without this proper treatment, so don’t skip out on it. Then throw these spent plants into a hot compost pile, burn them, or send them to the dump. Remember to pull up plastic mulch and take down temporary trellises, too.

Once garden hygiene is tended to, it’s a good time to add fertilizer and amendments. So scoop out that coop, take a mattock to that paddock, haul out that stall, shovel some stuff until you have adequate material to make your garden happy. I tend to add enough manure or compost to darken the soil a few shades. When making a brand new bed, though, I like to frame it up with cedar posts, mulch the bottom and sides with untreated cardboard or plain newsprint, with and fill it completely with whatever organic materials I have on hand or access to in abundance. (Examples include manure and bedding, compost, or a mix of these.)

While we enjoy this time of year and the accompanying crisp air and beautiful foliage, let’s think about ordering and planting trees. This is a good time of year for it, and we’ll talk about it in the next article. Stay tuned!