I’m Just Curious: Words, words, and more words

by Debbie Walker

Last week I shared some southern sayings with you so…… this week I have collected northeastern sayings. I got some from friends, family and of course odd sites on the internet. I’ve been chuckling all week with all kinds of sayings and terms. Such as, “whole 9 yards” and “pleased as punch” that I will share with you another week. (I just love words!!) And remember some of this came from “Outa Staters”! Let me ask for forgiveness now, I never want to insult or embarrass you.

Here is what I believe are New England (?) words:

Leaf Peepers – people who come to New England to see fall foliage and are usually found driving 20 MPH when you are in a hurry.

Outa staters – anyone who wasn’t born here (probably the same in every state, just that some states are adamant about it).

Parlor – older term for living room.

Butts – cigarettes, especially what’s left thrown on the ground.

Clicker – remote control of TV,( usually controlled by male of home.)

Down cella – where the freezer is, otherwise known as basement.

Draw – it’s supposed to be pronounced “drawer” as in “It’s the top drawer of my dresser.”

“No-suh” – “I don’t believe it” or “No”

“Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers” – can’t blame them!!!

“Cruisin’ for a brusin’- looking for trouble.

Right now I am wondering how many of you are wondering where I am really from, so I might have some you don’t recognize hopefully they are fun to read anyway!!!

“Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey” – from the practice of piling cannon balls on a brass triangle (monkey) on a ship’s deck, if it’s cold enough the brass shrinks a bit and the balls roll off.

“Hoity-toity” – having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think they are better, smarter or more important than other people. (ya, right. NOT)

“The pot calling the kettle black” – a situation in which one person criticizes another for a fault they have themselves. (But never see it in themselves!!)

“Lie like a rug” – to lie constantly- dishonest.

“A day late and a dollar short” – missed an opportunity and been inexcusably unprepared for it or “too little, too late!”

“Piss-ah” – awesome, very good, used by one with small vocabulary!!

“Tin foil”- aluminum foil   At one time tin was involved but that was a long time ago.

“Wicked” – equivalent to ‘very’, only stronger.

“Soda” – Pop is your father, not a drink.

I have heard “Screwed, Blued and Tattooed” for years, I kind of thought it would turn out to be something harmless like freezing the balls off the brass monkey, well, sort of, kind of, NOT. Okay, here we go:

“Screwed”, yup it’s sexual intercourse

“Blued” means the blue tablet containing Mercury, treatment for syphilis (I really don’t think sex was very safe way back then. And that syphilis could be passed on by blood.)

“Tattooed” refers to the fact sailors were often marked as property of “their” Navy. (tattooing with same needles passed on syphilis). A well-used saying was “you’re one of us now you scurvy dog. No woman will have you, there’s no life left but the sea. You are screwed, blued and tattooed.

There is a machinist version for this saying also, I will add that another night. I am always open to sayings I may not have heard or read, if you have some pass them along!

Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com, sub. line: Words   So for now : “Tootle-loo” (That’s a new one for me!!)

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Band leader Guy Lombardo Author Joan Sansom Composer Carl Neilsen

PlatterPerspective
by  Peter Cates


Guy Lombardo:
Enjoy Yourself; MCA, MCAD-11501, CD, recorded between late 1930s and mid ‘50s.

Guy Lombardo

Guy Lombardo

Guy Lombardo (1902-1977) led a band that consisted of talented musicians whose professionalism was at the highest spit-polished level. They recorded for four major labels that, for better or worse, dominated the industry for several decades – Columbia, RCA Vic­tor, Decca and Cap­itol, achieving sales of over 300 million records.

This CD has 16 of their most well known hits from the group’s Decca catalog, MCA having bought the label during the late ‘60′. Examples – Red Sails in the Sunset, Stars Fell on Alabama, Seems Like Old Times, The Third Man Theme and, of course, the title song invoking the urgency of having fun now before you are “six feet underground.”

Much of the credit should be given to their very popular lead singer Kenny Gardner, a perfectly smooth baritone who was married to one of Lombardo’s sisters.

The arrangements were heavily criticized for (to some ears) a certain corniness and sameness but one of the band’s biggest and most loyal fans was the immortal Satch­mo.

As a sideline interest, Lom­bardo was an accomplished hydroplane speedboat racer and won several prizes; however, he was testing one boat, fitted with a jet engine enabling speeds of 250 miles per hour. The boat exploded and he decided to call it quits.

For those who  like 78s, as opposed to other formats, the original Deccas are very easy to find in thrift stores, yard sales, etc. Otherwise this CD was very well mastered with clean, clear fidelity. One could check local outlets but Amazon prices begin at a penny yet range as high as 63 bucks.

Joan Sansom: The Auctioneer; novel, 1976.

Joan Sansom

Joan Sansom

This book deals with a small New Hampshire village, mainly agricultural, and a nice quiet place for families. An auctioneer, Perley Dinsmore moves into town and holds an auction to raise much-needed funds for the police department. And he builds some good will among the citizens.

Soon, however, ominous events occur. He, with the help of the police, begins soliciting belongings, valuables and money, even deeded property, with the police providing pickup service, and folks lack the will to say no, those few with any backbone suffering mysterious accidents. Events spiral out of control as just about everybody is stripped of everything while Dinsmore profits extensively.

The story was an extremely compelling reading experience but readers who like the traditional ending should be forewarned.

The author Sansom died of cancer at 39 in 1976 shortly after the novel was published.

 

Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 5; Paul Kletzki conducting the Suisse Romande Orchestra; London, CS 6699, stereo lp, recorded 1971.

Right at this moment in time, this Symphony by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) is the one I return to the most for listening both in the car and at home. Like Mahler’s 5th, it too has power, intense beauty and a joyous, life-enriching optimism. Some have considered it Nielsen finest work; others have considered it the finest Symphony of the 20th century; while a few have called it the greatest Symphony since those of Beethoven. I have seen several music lovers, even those outside the classical fold, become engrossed when hearing a recording of it on a decent stereo system or in concert.

Paul Kletzki

Paul Kletzki

 

Paul Kletzki (1900-1973) conducted a beautiful performance. Unfortunately, a CD re-issue from 25 years ago is no longer in print and only two copies of this LP are available from vendors at $40 for one and $80 for the other. However, I have heard a number of other recordings, each of which are good, and would recommend any of those listed on Amazon and elsewhere because this work has consistently inspired the best efforts of those who have chosen to record it.

 

Useful Citizens Tour: Guided walking tour of Skowhegan’s North Cemetery

Pages In Time

by Melvin Burnham

Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center will be hosting a tour of the historic North Cemetery off Madison Avenue on July 29th at 10 AM. During this guided walking tour participants will visit with some notable citizens that proved to be useful in developing country, community, and business.   In her two volume history of Skowhegan, Skowhegan on the Kennebec, Louise Helen Coburn selected a few useful citizens that “may be regarded as representative of the human stream, which during the late 18th century and early 19th flowed eastward and northward to come to rest beside the Kennebec near Skowhegan Falls, and here to pause for a generation before flowing outward to the ends of the known world.” Many of these notable souls rest in the North Cemetery.

This tour visits many prominent citizens of early Skowhegan including Amos Mann and Asa Dyer.  Dr. Amos

Dr. Amos A. Mann

Dr. Amos A. Mann

Angier Mann practiced medicine in Skowhegan for many years preceding 1882. He evidently didn’t go to school until he was 15, attended Lancaster (NH) for one term and served as assistant teacher in that institute.  Being an unusual doctor, he was sometimes summoned as a last resort because he did things that no other practitioner would dare attempt. In some cases of indigestion he would prescribe “plenty of pork and beans and stuff the potatoes right to her.” Dr. Mann was interested in politics and did not hesitate to share his opinion in his newspaper entitled “Mann’s Family Physician and Down East Screamer.”  His home was located on the corner of the Dr. Mann and the Athens’ road.

Many of the homes and businesses in Skowhegan are constructed of brick.  Most of those bricks were manufactured by two firms in Skowhegan, one being owned by Asa Dyer.  Louise Coburn notes that Asa was the first settler on his considerable farm of 85 acres which ran eastward across the plains on what was considered upper Madison Street known as Dyer Hill. Mr. Dyer ran a brick-yard just behind his home and the business was later carried on by his sons, Chandler and Isaac.  Isaac Dyer, notable Civil War General, is also at rest in the North Cemetery along with his servant slave Morgan Ellis.

Ellis Morgan Freed Man

Ellis Morgan Freed Man

Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center strives to bring local history alive through guided tours and research assistance at the museum, history related presentations, and by hosting tours featuring historic Skowhegan. After the Useful Citizens Tour, there is one remaining tour

Gen. Asa Dyer

Gen. Asa Dyer

scheduled for this season and it is new.  Early Bloomfield Settlers, Tour of the Bloomfield Cemetery on August 12th at 10 AM.

Participants will meet tour guide Melvin Burnham at the cemetery gate and a donation of $5 per person is suggested. For more information: info@skowheganhistoryhouse.org.

Bingham, Mayfield and Kingsbury become wind power sites

page6pict3by Dan Cassidy

Part Two and Conclusion

Electricity headed south

John Lamontagne, Senior Director of Communications for SunEdison, said  there are three Massachusetts utilities that have contracted to receive the energy from the project, National Grid, Unitil and Eversource.

“The approximate cost of the project is about $420 million to develop and build the project,” he said.  “There are a number of financial organizations who have financed the project.”

SunEdison conducts extensive environmental studies when citing a wind project, according to Lamontagne.  “We conducted bird and bat studies to ensure the project is not in the migration path of any bird and bat species.  We continue monitoring of the project after it is operational to ensure the impacts to wildlife are minimal.  Certainly, there are some impacts to birds and bats, but we want to be sure they are kept at an absolute minimum.”page6pict1

Turbines at the project are routinely maintained and inspected by an on-site crew.  Turbines go through quarterly reviews and annual inspections to ensure they’re kept in good working order as much as possible.  “In addition, the turbines are monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at our Renewable Energy Operations Centers in California and Boston,” Lamontagne said.

The project has seen about 300 full time jobs created since the site construction started.  “Once the project is completed, Bingham and surrounding communities will receive millions in tax revenues,” he said.  “Although the energy goes to out-of-state utilities, the county should see a windfall in terms of revenues to pay for goods and services.”

Lamontagne said that when the Mars Hill project was built in 2007, folks saw their taxes drop 25 percent, once the project went on-line.  When the project was completed in Oakfield last year, folks in that community are seeing a massive benefit in their tax bills.  “Bottom line, communities see benefits in terms of jobs and economic benefits when the project is built.”

Locals chime in

Many local residents have been keeping in touch with the wind tower project.  They have seen, towers, wind blades, of about 185 feet long and a lot of other pieces heavy equipment go by on the streets, headed to the job sites.

page6pict2

One of the towers on its side so electronics can be placed inside. The tower stands approximately 100 meters, (330 feet). Photos by Dan Cassidy

“We are totally impressed,” Steve Steward, first selectman of Bingham said.  “It is quite a big project.  When it’s all completed, the cost of the project will be over $400 million,” he said.

The tax savings in Bingham should be affected next year, according to Steward. There are 11 towers located in Bingham that will be about $4,000 per tower.  “The other towers are located in Mayfield, an unorganized territory and Kingsbury.”

The Town of Bingham negotiated $8,000 per tower that they would pay.  “There was no ceiling, $4,000 was the minimum they have to pay for tax relief, so we accepted $8,000, and I was happy with that.”

The construction is going smoothly, and most residents are comfortable with that.  A note of interest is that the 56 wind towers being erected are not visible from Route 201.

Stanley Redmond, a local long time resident and a wood harvesting Land Agent has seen a lot of heavy equipment go right by his door on Route 201 over the last several months.  “How great it is to see science so advanced today and to watch all the people involved in installing these wind towers and see how professional they are doing their great work,” he said.

“The operation of installing these giants is something entirely different than what we thought it would be,” he said.  “Everyone involved are in great hopes these wind towers will prove to be very helpful for many reasons and will be accepted with open arms by all.  It will be interesting to see the decrease cost of purchasing power from these giant wind towers once they start turning the blades.  The engineer and all the associates should receive our thanks for such a remarkable job.”

Example tower sights

Lamontagne compared the Oakfield Wind towers in Piscataquis County, as an example, “that town will receive $26 million in tax benefits and community benefit payments over the next 20 years. “As a result, folks in that community have seen their tax bills dramatically reduced.”

“Full-time Oakfield residents now receive tax breaks and an annual check for about $2,000 per year, a benefit that will be in place for 20 years,” he said.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of July 21, 2016

Solon and Beyondby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
643-5805
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

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

One of many enjoyable events through my many years of writing took place last Saturday at Whispering Pines, in North Anson. Thank goodness it was a beautiful, calm, (just a soft breeze) perfect for flying day for the Franklin County Aircraft Modelers who were going to demonstrate flying their planes for members of Goodwill out of Waterville.

President of the club, Lewis Gordon was contacted by a staff member at Goodwill asking about eight residents coming to North Anson to see the club members fly their planes. Wayne White, who has been flying and making some of his planes for years, demonstrated his craft, which is very breathtaking how he can make his planes do such amazing things with the touch of his fingers on the controls. The guests who watched were fascinated and asked questions.

Joe Gilbert, another experienced flyer, demonstrated his drone with CG 03 4K camera which he flew way up in the sky and it took some pictures that were absolutely beautiful! It is amazing (to me) how anyone can design these things. Some of the others from the club who flew that day were Dalton Poulin (Shorty), Kirk Rollins and Frederick Bray. I think I can safely say that many of the guests were glad to be on such a fun trip on a beautiful day. I heard many, “Thank you” from them, along with smiles.

The staff member who accompanied them was Kevin Taft, of Solon, and the driver of the bus was Chris Tredeau. They have done many other trips and enjoyed getting out to Lake George, whitewater rafting to name a few.

The Neighbor to Neighbor Thrift Shop at the Embden Community Center is having a sale. One-half off on tank tops, shorts and sleepwear through July 23. The thrift shop is open Wed., Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

My daughter, Mary Walz was born on July 18 and her son Ben Walz surprised her with a wonderful birthday party at The Sedgley Place, in Greene. Those attending were Mary’s husband, Dave Walz, her sons, Ben and Alexander, her brother Mark and his wife Karen and Lief and me. Mary’s daughter Amanda was unable to attend.

The Sedgley Place is a beautiful old mansion and we had a room to ourselves, it was a great party with lots of good food!

Some people evidently hadn’t picked up The Town Line paper the week I wrote that I was going to take a vacation from writing this column in the July 7 issue. Anyway, several people have approached me, all upset because they thought I had stopped writing. They said they liked Percy’s memoirs and said how much they missed the stories about him, but liked his memoirs!

So here is Percy’s memoir this week about Friendship. “It is a sweet thing, friendship, a dear balm, A happy and auspicious bird of calm…. Whose coming is as light and music are.. ‘Mid dissonance and gloom – a star Which moves not ‘mid the moving heavens alone, A smile among dark powers – a gentle tone Among rude voices, a beloved light, A solitude , a refuge, a delight. Found this in an old yellowed book, the words are by Shelly.

And faith in friendship is the noblest part. Friendship above all ties does bind the heart.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Why are all these trees dripping on me?

“Why are all these trees dripping on us,” was a question I was asked last week by a neighbor at camp. “It isn’t sap, just water.”

Well, the simple answer is that the tree is “sweating.”

Now, for the more scientific explanation.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the process is actually called transpiration, and it is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as from leaves but also from stems and flowers. Leaf surfaces are dotted with page12pict1pores, similar to our skin, which are called stomata, and in most plants they are more numerous on the undersides of the foliage. The stomata are bordered by guard cells and their accessory cells that open and close the pore. Transpiration occurs through the stomatal apertures, and can be thought of as a necessary cost associated with the opening of the stomata to allow the diffusion of carbon dioxide gas from the air for photosynthesis. Transpiration also cools plants – again similar to our sweating – changes the pressure of cells, and enables mass flow of mineral nutrients and water from roots to shoots.

Mass flow of liquid water from the roots to the leaves is driven in part by capillary action, but primarily driven by water potential differences. In taller plants and trees, the force of gravity can only be overcome by the decrease in water pressure in the upper parts of the plants due to the diffusion of water out of stomata into the atmosphere. Water is absorbed at the roots by osmosis, and any dissolved mineral nutrients travel with it through the xylem (the woody portion of the plant).

Plant transpiration is pretty much an invisible process, since the water is evaporating from the leaf surfaces, you don’t just go out and see the leaves “sweating.” Just because you can’t see the water doesn’t mean it is not being put into the air, though. During a growing season, a leaf will transpire many times more water than its own weight. An acre of corn gives off about 3,000-4,000 gallons of water each day, and a large oak tree can transpire 40,000 gallons per year.

The rate of transpiration is also influenced by the evaporative demand of the atmosphere surrounding the leaf such as humidity, change in temperature, wind and incident sunlight.

page12pict2Soil water supply and soil temperature can influence stomatal opening, and thus transpiration rate. The amount of water lost by a plant also depends on its size and the amount of water absorbed at the roots. Transpiration accounts for most of the water loss by a plant, but some direct evaporation also takes place through the cuticle of the leaves and young stems. Transpiration serves to evaporatively cool plants as the escaping water vapor carries away heat energy.

Transpiration rates go up as the temperature goes up, especially during the growing season, when the air is warmer due to stronger sunlight and warmer air masses. Higher temperatures cause the plant cells which control the openings (stoma) where water is released to the atmosphere to open, whereas colder temperatures cause the openings to close.

As the relative humidity of the air surrounding the plant rises the transpiration rate falls. It is easier for water to evaporate into dryer air than into more saturated air.

Increased movement of the air around a plant will result in a higher transpiration rate. This is somewhat related to the relative humidity of the air, in that as water transpires from a leaf, the water saturates the air surrounding the leaf. If there is no wind, the air around the leaf may not move very much, raising the humidity of the air around the leaf. Wind will move the air around, with the result that the more saturated air close to the leaf is replaced by drier air.

When moisture is lacking, plants can begin premature aging, which can result in leaf loss,  and transpire less water.

So, if anyone asks you why the trees are dripping, you can go into the long, scientific explanation, or you just simply say, “the tree is sweating,” and watch for the looks you will get.

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of July 14, 2016

Katie Ouilette

by Katie Ouilette

Faithful readers, WALLS hope you are having a wonderful summer.  Especially, since I just met some folks from Oklahoma and we talked briefly about the terrible weather they have experienced so far this summer.  I guess what we believe and what we have heard on TV is absolutely right……..Maine…….the way life should be!  WALLS is sure of that fact, too!!

Problem is, we wonder where all the tourists are.  A pontoon-boat ride around Lake Wesserunsett yesterday proved that folks were either watching television or having their daily nap.  For sure, very few folks were outside, whether paddling a kayak or swimming or riding in their power boat!

Well, WALLS decided that Waves From Wesserunset, the summer lake newsletter, had to be written to excite everyone a bit.  Yes, we did hear that the Lake Wesserunsett Association’s ‘welcome everyone’ cocktail party at the Lakewood Inn was great for seeing folks after so long and WALLS will admit that the weather hasn’t been perfect so far for ‘fun on the Lake.’  Maybe, faithful readers, WALLS will talk about better times next week.

Actually, faithful readers, there’s no time like the present for WALLS to tell you that, today, David Richards, executive director of Margaret Chase Smith Library on Norridgewock Avenue, in Skowhegan, and the Skowhegan Heritage Council set the date for Last Rose of Summer Day, which the council has hosted for six years.  Invitations will be sent to all historical societies and associations in Somerset County and other locations in Maine for Wednesday, September 11, at 1 p.m. at the MCS Library.  We will let all the groups know where there is lunch being served in Skowhegan and the Last Rose of Summer events will be at the senator’s library this year.

By the way, do you know why the Heritage Council has chosen that name for celebrating our beloved Senator Smith?

She always wore a red rose when attending Congressional meetings in Washington, D.C., and, though the red rose will forever be a reminder of this woman who loved her Skowhegan and Maine, we know there will probably never be another ‘Margaret’ for us who knew her.

By the way, if you are not a member of an historical group but would like to attend, please tell our administrative secretary, Cynthia Kirk, at 474-6904.

WALLS say again:  “have a safe and happy summer,” faithful readers.  Don’t forget that Historian Earle Shettleworth will be speaking at the Fairfield Center Grange on July 15, at 7 p.m., and Barb Bailey told me via e-mail today that the event will begin with a BBQ before.  Bon Appetit, too!

Pages in Time: A parrot gives me the bird

page8pict1by Milt Huntington

We had just come from a Celtics games at Boston Garden and had decided to stay at King’s Grant just outside of Beantown on the way home to Maine.

We had stayed there before and knew the food would be good and the rooms comfortable and quiet. The Inn boasted a delightful cocktail lounge and live musical entertainment on the weekends. A small swimming pool in the lounge was centered in a jungle-like atmosphere. It was a little steamy, but all in all, rather pleasant.

Large columns were located around the pool to add to the atmosphere, and a wooden foot bridge crossed over what appeared to be a stream feeding the indoor pool. During the course of the evening we notice a large parrot sitting in a cage behind one of the columns. When we cooed “Hello” to the colorful bird, it would politely respond: “Hello! Hello!” We kept it up until the bird got sick of the routine and refused to speak anymore.

The next morning, I woke up a little early, so I decided to don my swimming trunks to take a dip in the pool. The place appeared to be deserted, so I had the pool to myself. After splashing around awhile, I sat in a chair to dry off approximately where we were the night before, right up against a column.page8pict2

It was at that point I remembered the loquacious parrot from the previous night. I leaned forward in my chair and peered around the column. Sure enough, there was the talkative bird half-asleep in his cage. “Hello!” Hello!” I cooed to my feathery friend in a high-pitched falsetto greeting. The bird didn’t move, but the man sitting on the other side of the column moved. Did he ever move! He dashed out of the lounge as though his bathing suit was afire. He stole one quick frightened glance at me over his shoulder as he pushed through the door and out of my life forever.

It was sometime later when I told my good friend, the late John Gould Jr. about the humorous incident. That was a mistake. It was a big mistake.

John Gould, a Maine paper industry lobbyist, would frequently go to great lengths in the interest of playing a practical joke. On one occasion, he casually asked me over to his house in Hallowell for a couple of drinks. It sounded like a relaxing way to end a day of lobbying at the State House in Augusta. Upon arrival, I discovered he had neglected to tell me a candidate for Governor of Maine was also there. As it developed, I wound up writing some of the candidate’s campaign speeches. The candidate lost the election and I felt partially responsible for having written a rather biting presentation near the end of the campaign. John assured me the candidate would not have done as well as he did if not for the speech.

A few years later John had moved to Washington to take a federal lobbying job with his company. I had flown down to attend a Maine State Society banquet, and responded to John’s kind invitation to stop by his house in McLean, Virginia, for a libation before we both headed for the banquet in downtown D.C.

When I arrived at John’s home, I couldn’t help but notice a sleek stretch limousine parked in his driveway. I didn’t find that too unusual. John’s company provided him such transportation on special occasions from time to time. John’s two sons were playing basketball in the driveway. I grabbed the ball and flung it over the limo. Nothing but net! Without so much as a word, I turned and strode into the house, knowing full well I couldn’t do that again in a million years. I hope I impressed the kids. It certainly surprised the heck out of me.

I entered the house, was warmly greeted by John and his wife, and got myself another surprise. John introduced me to the then current Governor of Maine. We all rode to the banquet in the big old limousine.

Now, getting back to the parrot. As I recounted before, I had unwittingly told John of my experience in the King Grant’s cocktail lounge. He couldn’t wait to tell the Governor all about it. Then John asked me about my plans for the following day and I told him I had an appointment to meet with Senator George Mitchell on Capitol Hill. He seemed to think that was wonderful.

That next day, I walked into the Senator’s office, and announced very formally: “Mr. Huntington to see Senator Mitchell. I have a 10 a.m. appointment. The receptionist and the entire officer staff broke into a falsetto chorus of “Hello! Hello!”

I guess you could say they gave me the bird!

Milt Huntington is the author of “A Lifetime of Laughter” and “Things That Make You Grin.”

The magical bug of summer; where has it gone?

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee

It’s amazing the subjects you can come up with while sitting around. Last Sunday we were sitting by a campfire when we noticed a lightning bug. Notice I said “a,” like in one, uno, solo. It was the first lightning bug I had seen in a while. I remember when I was growing up, we used to go visit relatives in Canada, and sometimes go  to a camp where we would see hundreds of lightning bugs flying around a field. You just don’t see that anymore. And, lo and behold, on Monday morning, I received an email from a reader asking the same question.

The lightning bug (firefly) during the day

The lightning bug (firefly) during the day

Anyway, lightning bugs can make summers magical, but there is more to learn about these beauties.

First off, lightning bugs are actually fireflies. Fireflies are cute and elegant by day, but downright dazzling after darkness falls. But behind their charming facade, fireflies are fascinating little insects. Consider the following facts:

They are beetles, not flies. Fireflies are nocturnal members of Lampyridae, a family of insects within the beetle order Coleoptera, or winged beetles. Yes, they are officially beetles.

They are alchemists, poetically speaking at least. While they don’t actually turn base metals into gold, they do create light as if by magic. When a chemical called luciferin (note the same Latin root as Lucifer) inside their abdomen/tail combines with oxygen, calcium and adenosine triphosphate, a chemical reaction occurs that creates their spectacular light.

Firefly light is incredibly efficient. The light produced by the firefly is the most efficient light ever made. Almost 100 percent of the energy in the chemical reaction is emitted as light; in comparison, an incandescent light bulb only emits 10 percent of its energy as light, the other 90 percent is lost as heat.

The lightning bug (firefly) at night

The lightning bug (firefly) at night

The main reason lightning bugs flash is to attract mates. Among most but not all species of North American lightning bugs, males fly about flashing while females perch on vegetation, usually near the ground. If the female sees a flasher and she’s ready to mate she responds by flashing right after the male’s last flash. A short flash dialogue takes place as the male flies closer and closer, and then, if all goes well, they mate.

They come in a rainbow of colors. Well maybe not the whole spectrum, but they do come in yellow, light red, green and orange.

They taste awful. Not that we were planning on snacking on fireflies anytime soon, but for predators that might like a light meal, beware the lightning bug. Firefly blood contains lucibufagins, which is actually a defensive steroid that tastes really disgusting. It is similar to that found in some poisonous toads. Predators associate the bad taste with a firefly’s light and learn not to eat bugs that glow.

However, their numbers are declining. If you’re seeing fewer fireflies each summer, you’re not alone. Evidence suggests that firefly populations may be on the decline, most likely due to a combination of light pollution, pesticide use and habitat destruction. For example, according to Smithsonian.com, if a field where fireflies live is paved over, the fireflies don’t migrate to another field, they just disappear forever.

The scientific and citizen consensus is that fireflies could be facing a tough time. Malaysia even holds an international symposium dedicated to conservation of the firefly. Scientists have for years been warning that the world’s estimated 2,000 species of fireflies are dwindling.

And is it any wonder? As the man-made environment continues its march into the natural world, where are these things supposed to live? Fireflies breed and exist in the woods and forests, along lakes and streams, in dense gardens and unruly meadows. Where are they supposed to do their firefly things when those places are paved over and built upon?

All of it doesn’t bode well.

“Fireflies are indicators of the health of the environment and are declining across the world as a result of degradation and loss of suitable habitat, pollution of river systems, increased use of pesticides in agro-ecosystems and increased light pollution in areas of human habitation,” notes the Selangor Declaration, a firefly advocating document. “The decline of fireflies is a cause for concern and reflects the global trend of increasing biodiversity loss.”

Fireflies are part of our heritage; they are an iconic creature and have played a role in many, many cultures. They are the epitome of summer evenings, for many of us they served as an introduction to the wonders of nature. If we lose the fireflies, we lose an important invisible thread that connects us to the magic of the natural world. And as a species, we can’t afford to lose that right now.

I’m Just Curious – Week of July 7, 2016

Emily CatesOpinions and columns

by Debbie Walker

My hope is as you read our columns that you sometimes find information of use in your daily life. Some of the columns are aimed at giving you a chuckle. Some columns are designed to give you information we have heard and you may not have yet, so we pass it along. Some are just as the title says, just our opinions.

Some weeks you may read an opinion and totally agree with it. You may in some way feel validated knowing someone else carries the same opinion you do. That same column may strike someone else completely different, they may absolutely disagree. And still others may read it and it gives them something to mull over as to how they feel about the subject.

Some weeks a column may give you something to laugh about. For at least a few minutes you forgot something weighing heavy on your mind and have a little chuckle and possibly something you feel was positive enough to share with others.

There are times we are very serious about subjects like politics of many levels. Again the information may be general or it may be quite detailed, all of which is presented for you to consider. (Very seldom do I tackle this subject. You would shortly find out I have a healthy disrespect for the subject!!)

Sometimes we write about health issues as I did with “Ticks and Bumps”. I re-run it once a year because it is about a little known skin cancer, that’s the “bump”, little known and yet it is cancer. If you had seen mine you probably would have thought like I did, “It’s nothing”, however I was wrong.

Some writers give you a bit of history of the area. Local history is always interesting to me. When people are new to an area they often appreciate this info. If you have your own memories of the area it may be a trip down memory lane. If you know a local story of earlier years pass it on. When I lived in Florida we had an old story about the actual county building being moved to a different area one night!!

It’s my understanding that the biggest newspapers are slowly on their way out. A friend of mine, a long time newspaper man explained to me that we now have access to the subjects we are most interested in instantly with internet and hand held devices. Newspapers are becoming obsolete as we are driven more and more into the “tech” world. He believed the small local papers would continue for quite some time. Most people like to see local folks in their papers; local kid’s sports, celebrations, honors, obituaries, police beat; all things local, good and bad. And if anyone is like me I still prefer flipping paper pages.

I believe each of the writers for any paper hopes to please the readers with information of interest to the community. You can play a role in a local paper, as well, if you know something you think should be printed, give the paper a call! See what happens.

I’m just curious if you remembered to mark this year’s calendar for the Pow-wow in Newport coming up Labor Day Weekend? It is usually a very educational as well as great time.

Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com, subject line: Papers   Thanks for reading!