REVIEW POTPOURRI: John Stewart, Pergolesi & The Time of Your Life

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Peter Catesby  Peter Cates

John Stewart
Blondes

Allegiance Records AV 431, 12-inch stereo vinyl LP, recorded 1982.

John Stewart (1939-2008) was arguably one of the dozen or so finest singer/songwriters to emerge during the folk/rock era of the ‘60s. When he was picked by the Kingston Trio to replace original member Dave Guard in 1961, his singing, composing, instrumentals and comic spokesman skills added much to the live concerts and recordings for the Trio’s remaining six years before disbanding in 1968.

The launch of his solo career with 1968’s Signals through the Glass would turn out to be, because of its over-produced arrangements (although I still treasure it), a mere taste of the brilliance manifested later in California Bloodlines, Willard, Sunstorm and others over the next 40 years. His songs were stories of the American experience wrought with a uniquely original musical voice- folk, country, Aaron Copland, blues, pop and disco, all blended into the most engaging, individualistic goulash to be heard anywhere. Whether a Mississippi back road, the spectacular dark prairie skies of Nebraska or wistful memories of the woman who got away, Stewart internalized these experiences and transformed them into something very special.

1982’s Blondes is an assortment of 10 songs of exceptional quality, a standard that Stewart, for all his gifts, didn’t always sustain. The general theme is the stark, glittering reality of the early ‘80s California urban landscape, saturated with the refuse of pipe dreams, lonely hearts thousands of miles from home and other on-going forms of emotional brokenness. A few titles reveal a lot – Girl Down the River, Angeles (The City of the Angels), Queen of Hollywood High, Golden Gate; my favorite, by a tiny margin, is You Won’t Be Going Home, a piercingly eloquent four minutes of music that ranks with anything I have heard from any genre.

As so often the case, Stewart has the finest vocal/instrumental talent money can buy. Here, Lindsay Buckingham and Linda Ronstadt do a couple of backups.

Through Amazon and its vendors, Blondes is available for $9 as an mp3, 15 dollars as an LP, and 19 bucks as a CD .

Pergolesi

Stabat Mater; Teresa Stitch-Randall, soprano; Elizabeth Hoengen, alto; Anton Heiller, organ; Mario Rossi conducting the Vienna Akademiekammerchor and Vienna State Opera Orchestra; Vanguard SRV-195SD, 12-inch stereo vinyl LP, recorded mid-’50s.

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, 1710-1736, earned a precarious living composing for the Italian nobility before dying at 26 from tuberculosis. Being one of his two best known works along with the opera La Serva Padrona, these would not be heard until after the composer’s death. Stabat was commissioned by a few nobles for performance before a private gathering and had no liturgical purpose. But it has a lovely intimate, devotional quality and is sung very well by the two fine soloists and women’s choir under Rossi’s authoritative leadership.

Copies of the LP and CD start at just over $2.

The Time of Your Life

starring James Cagney, William Bendix, Ward Bond, Broderick Crawford, Tom Powers, Wayne Morris, Jeanne Cagney, James Barton, etc.; directed by H.C. Potter; produced by William Cagney; released by United Artists; 1948; 109 minutes; based on a play by William Saroyan.

This all time favorite of mine, and very underrated, deals with folks who frequent a San Francisco waterfront bar, just “being themselves!” It features some of Hollywood’s finest alpha male actors – Cagney, Morris, Bond, Crawford, etc. Special fun – just don’t bring any preconceptions !

Talk always turns to the weather

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We experienced an unusually warm and dry summer and it seems to be continuing with a warm stretch of weather this fall.

Isn’t it amazing how when you begin a conversation with someone, inevitably, it always leads to the weather. What would we do if we didn’t have the weather to talk about. Maybe some of us would never speak – probably not a bad idea for some. Whether you’re at the supermarket, church, or just bumping into a friend on the street, the conversation always goes something like, “What a nice day,?” or “boy it sure is hot enough.” Get the idea?

Well, the other day, a colleague and I started talking about the lack of an old-fashioned “Indian Summer” this year (Sorry, no political correctness here). Which prompted me to think, “what really is an Indian summer and what determines whether we have one or not?”

An Indian summer is unseasonably warm, dry and calm weather, usually following a period of colder weather or frost in the late autumn, in September, October or early November. The Old Farmers Almanac describes it as: “During true Indian summer, the atmosphere looks hazy or smokey, and the weather is calm and dry.”

Modern ideas on what an Indian summer constitutes vary, but the most widely accepted value for determining whether an Indian summer is occurring is that the weather must be above 70 degrees for seven days following the autumnal equinox.

In Canada and the northeastern United States, a ground frost must have been present before the wave of warm weather, if the period is to be considered an Indian summer. We experienced a frost last week.

The term Indian summer has been used for more than two centuries. The origin of other “Indian” phrases are well-known as referring to North American Indians, who prefer to be called Native Americans, or, in Canada, First Nations. The term Indian summer reached England in the 19th century, during the heyday of the British Raj in India. This led to the mistaken belief that the term referred to the Indian subcontinent. In fact, the Indians in question were the Native Americans, and the term began use there in the late 18th century.

Indian summer is first recorded in Letters From an American Farmer, a 1778 work by the French-American soldier-turned-farmer J. H. St. John de Crevecoeur: “Then a severe frost succeeds which prepares it to receive the voluminous coat of snow which is soon to follow; though it is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer.”

There are many references to the term in American literature in the following hundred years or so. In the 1830s Indian summer began to be used figuratively, to refer to any late flowering following a period of decline. It was well enough established as a phrase by 1834 for John Greenleaf Whittier to use the term that way, when in his poem Memories,” he wrote of “The Indian Summer of the heart!.”

Or, Thomas DeQuincey, in a republishing of Bentley’s Works of Thomas DeQuincey, 1855, wrote: “An Indian summer crept stealthily over his closing days.”

Also, in his story The Guardian Angel, Oliver Wendell Holmes mentions “an Indian summer of serene widowhood.”

As a climatic event it is known throughout the world and is most frequently associated with the eastern and central states of the U.S., which have a suitable climate to generate the weather pattern. For example, a wide variation of temperature and wind strength from summer to winter.

Why Indian? Well, no one knows but, as is commonplace when no one knows, many people have guessed.

Some say it was from the prairie fires deliberately set by Indian tribes; from raids on European settlements by Indian war parties, which usually ended in autumn; or, in parallel with other Indian terms, it implied a belief in Indian falsity and untrustworthiness, and that an Indian summer was a substitute copy of the real thing.page12pict3

But my grandfather, who could spin a yarn with the best of them, had the best I’ve ever heard.

It seems an Indian chief was concerned about a hunting party that was delayed in returning from a late summer gathering of meat for the winter. The year had been an extremely difficult one and the tribe needed the buffalo, deer and turkey for their winter consumption and the skins for clothing.

Fearing the crops in the fields would succumb to a frost, and go to waste before the braves returned, the chief sat at his campfire, and began to feverishly smoke a pipe, until the air was filled with smokey, hot air. Once the hunting party made its return, the air was still warm enough to gather the crops that the chief feared would be destroyed by the impending cold weather.

Makes sense to me. If my grandfather says so, it must be true.

I’m Just Curious: Fragile delivery (???)

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by Debbie Walker

This past week the mail lady brought a box to our door. It was marked as “fragile.” Ken was a little curious about what I had bought now. As I have said before I have a lot of interests and I honestly did not know what I had ordered that was fragile (?). I couldn’t think of a thing.

You, of course, realize by now that I am always looking for “odd” information. If I can find it already put together in one place, like a book, Yehaw, I am a happy camper!

One book is titled The Natural Superiority of THE LEFT HANDER. What fun to find out how talented I should be. It was dedicated to the citizens of Left Hand, West Virginia, population 450 and every one a Left-Hander! I did find out it is believed one person in ten is left handed. Did you know there is a belief that some plants are left handed? Honeysuckle is one of the few climbing plants that twine to the left (?). Lobsters have some left handers (?). That book was a quick read and was pretty funny.

Then I pulled out What Did We Use Before TOILET PAPER? 195 curious Questions & Intriguing Answers. Such as “Why do people have tonsils?” I was surprised that they are part of the lymphatic system and acts as part of the immune system. Well, who would have thunk that one!! And I have 194 yet to read! You know I’ll be passing on some tidbits.

Another book, Why Do We Say It? The stories behind the words, expressions and clichés we use”. And you know that I have found some of this type of info on the internet. This book comes equipped with quizzes! Can’t wait to get into this one!

You’re going to get a kick out of this next one! Can Holding In A Fart Kill You? And over 150 Curious Questions & Intriguing Answers. I have read enough to know that, Nope, holding it in won’t kill you!

(Just in case you are curious!)

And the final book is, I’m Dead. Now What? That’s just a boring book organizing our messy lives for those we leave behind. Actually that could be a comical read depending on your life and activities. If I ever get it filled out my daughter may find it helpful. Time will tell (wonder where that saying came in.)

The only thing I can think of that was “fragile” about the box of books is possibly the shippers felt as though the person receiving them may be mentally fragile! The jury is still out on that one!

OK, as for what we used before toilet paper, oh my goodness. People from different places in the world used different materials. People used everything from balled up hay or grass, to rocks (?) to even sea shells (?) to lace! And I guess about everyone knows about the old Sears catalog that came with a hole through it to hang it by in the outhouse!

Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com as always I’m Just Curious!

Recording artists: Chad & Jeremy; Composer: Rachmaninoff; TV series: House of Cards

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by  Peter Cates

Chad and Jeremy
Donna, Donna; If I Loved You; World Artists WA 1041, seven-inch vinyl 45 rpm, recorded 1965.

Chad & Jeremy

Chad & Jeremy

This 45 features two very pleasant renditions by the talented duo from England, Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde – better known as Chad and Jeremy. For me, they have always been more interesting than Simon and Gar­funkel with their Co­lumbia albums, Distant Shores and Of Cabbages and Kings, being the most distinctive.

In 1966, Jeremy appeared as a contestant on the Dating Game and winning while Chad did a turn in Disney’s Jungle Book as the voice of Flaps the vulture. Amazon and its vendors have these two songs in streaming, CD, LP and mp3 formats while original copies of the 45 rpm start at a buck.

Rachmaninoff
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (with Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony); Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain (with Enrique E. Jorda conducting the San Francisco Symphony); Artur Rubinstein, piano; RCA Victor LM-2430, mono lp edition of an album that was released in stereo as LSC-2430; 12-inch 33-1/3 rpm vinyl record; released 1962.

Rachmaninoff

Rachmaninoff

My mono LP that I refer to above stems from a time, 1958 to about 1968, when most new LPs of every musical category came out in mono and stereo editions, mono being a dollar cheaper than stereo be­cause of its lack of separation of instruments between two speakers and stereo’s additional enhanced and vivid clarity. In recent years, however, the mono editions of select rock and jazz classic LPs are generating big bucks because of a full richness and natural ambiance that stereo supposedly lacks much of the time, clean copies of these records being especially desirable! Unfortunately, classical monos are not that much in demand.

The Rachmaninoff and Falla works are very colorful, melodically and dramatically exciting pieces of music played in the closest to perfection manner of the great Artur; the Rachmaninoff was AR’s personally favorite record of all of his output. Finally this mono LP has wonderful sound.

And, of course, both performances are available on CD!

House of Cards

Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey

starring Kevin Spacey, is one of the more well-crafted suspense shows of the last three to four years and thus as high quality as my tiny handful of other classics – Dexter, Justified and the Black List. Recommended: MOST HIGHLY !

It deals with a most evil D.C. insider, Frank Underwood, who slithers his way from majority whip to President of the United States. A favored Underwood quote – “Nobody is a Boy Scout, even Boy Scouts! ”

Available on Netflix.

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of October 20, 2016

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, you have the book! What’s more, I didn’t know Longfellow wrote some of those poems! Well, faithful readers, there’s another history lesson coming your way! Yes, you know I love history, but Longfellow did not know that the Denises would be staying in a room at the famous Wayside Inn, in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Well, of course, it is called Longfellow’s Wayside Inn by everyone who knows.

Yes, I felt compelled to read this new antique book and, wow, WALLS, memories were a popping, for sure. In fact, faithful readers, if you’ve stayed in a hotel or motel, you know that the telephone’s ringing wakes you up if you have asked for a wake-up call. Not at the old Wayside Inn, however, as, just like in Longfellow’s day, there was a knock on the door for wake-up time. Yup, faithful readers, so it was when Denises lived there for a few days in 1961.

Thank heavens, our three kiddos were with Nana Roxie and Poppy Henry in Maine but everyone was eager when our house on Dutton Road was ready for occupancy. However, we had some interesting experiences there. Russell attended nursery school next door to our house. That was ‘lou-lout’s house.’

Yup, she had a horse that the students could ride, but one day, when Daddy Joe was on the tall ladder patching holes in the outside of our house that a woodpecker found inviting, the horse decided to join Joe. So Joe descended in a hurry and equally so, Lou-Lou got her horse back!

Yes, WALLS mentioned memories a bit ago, because Longfellow had written about the people gathered in the Wayside Inn’s living room in his Tales of a Wayside Inn. Longfellow mentions men gathered around and listening to stories (who said women do all the talking!) and there was a musician playing a violin. Applause sounded occasionally.

Frankly, WALLS, can you picture the men? In those days of the 1700s, they even wore beautiful suits with ruffles and on their heads were wigs! In today’s world, men have shaved heads, beards of all lengths and the women have long-long-long hair! Someone has said that times change and surely changes have taken place in so many ways…..whether attire or other grooming.

Well, WALLS, since I did mention the three Denis young’uns, I will close with a salute to our local….in Maine…. local schools. Those three Denis students eventually ended up in Madison schools and, frankly, we were so fortunate that, when growing up in East Madison, they received a really great education right here in Madison! I know that none of the teachers that taught Craig, Russell and Lynn are still active in their calling, but this is a good time to let you faithful readers know that I am definitely appreciative of what they did in giving our children an education and not using them as experiments. Oh, teachers in Massachusetts didn’t know that was happening, but we knew that back in Maine ‘our young folk’ were being guided to their respective future.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 20, 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 East Madison Historical Association is hosting a hunters breakfast/brunch on Saturday, October 29, from 9 a.m. – noon, at the East Madison Fire Station, just north of the village on East Madison Rd.
The Wildwood Band will be playing at the Embden Community Center Gym on Saturday, October 29, at 7 – 11 p.m. Dance/Show. Come dressed in your favorite Halloween costume.

The Anson-North Anson Snowmobile Club will hold its annual craft fair at Carrabec High School on Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Snowmobile Club will continue to sell hot food and desserts as a fundraiser.

The Solon Congregational Church will be holding their holiday craft fair at the Solon Elementary School on Saturday, November 12, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The kitchen will be open for breakfast and lunch. They are doing a couple of new things this year such as a Kids Room, which will feature inexpensive, gently used items for kids to buy for their family members for Christmas gifts and gift wrapping will be included! Also, there will be several themed gift baskets and other items for a Chinese Auction table.

Jennifer Hebert sent me the information and she wrote, “We are always hoping for more and more crafters/vendors each year, and feel that we have some great offerings thus far. Our plan is to expand out of the gym with spaces hopefully.” To call for a table rental , the number is 643-2180.
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #39, of Madison, is holding its 31st Annual Craft Fair at the American Legion Post #39, at 20 S. Maple St., Madison, on Saturday, November 12, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The table fee will be $ 10. Because of the popularity of this craft fair they are implementing two table maximum per crafter. An early response would help them to plan the spaces to the best possible advantage of everyone and insures you a reserved spot. For more information you may call Robin Turek at 6968289.

The Embden Thrift Shop is having a bag sale on all children’s clothing (babies, children, and teens)this week. It is open Wed., Fri. and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Lending Library is open on those same days and hours.

The Pilgrim Fellowship Youth Group of the North Anson Congregational Church went to Houston Brook Falls after church last Sunday, their were over 20 of them including leaders. Ages for joining this fellowship are grades 5 through 12 and they meet twice a month, their next meeting is on Sunday, November 6, from 6 – 7:30 pm. For more information you may call Mary Walz at 635-2137.

Lief and I spent last week in Rangeley and we had a wonderful time. Was going to write about one of the adventures we had, but it would take up too much space, perhaps another time. The colors were absolutely out of this world, there aren’t enough words to describe them! We took a ride up to Saddleback Mountain one day, we were lucky to catch someone there to talk with. He was on his cell phone for quite awhile, and when he got off the phone he said, “Do you want to buy the place? For $40 million you could have it up and running!” We declined the offer. But it is so sad that someone with lots of money couldn’t start it up again. There are lots and lots of empty condos that go with the place, and the views on this perfect fall day were spectacular.

And so to Percy’s memoirs: If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones, eat more ice cream and less beans. (words by Harold Kushner). And now some advice from George Washington, a respected president. “When government takes away citizens’ right to bear arms it becomes citizens’ duty to take away government’s right to govern.”

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of October 13, 2016

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS and faithful readers, are we to be glad or frightened? Why the question? Well, I’ve just read much of a subject in National Geographic about what science is doing now. Then, my mind has been on a swing from the days I was in school and what was happening then and, heaven forbid, what is being discovered for the future. Well, maybe my mind is swinging into the long-long ago and happenings that took place as glaciers tore up the world and places have been created. Why do I know some of these things? Not from my schooldays, but from living in the midst of where changes took place. What’s more, even the recent Hurricane Matthew that swept through Florida’scoastal area and north have changed the world, a bit, as we learned it in school. No doubt about it, faithful readers, we have known so much change about so many things in our lifetime.

How many of you know about Herkimer diamond? Well, they’ve been called diamonds for centuries, but they really are not real diamonds, like one buys, unless, of course, you are in the market for what is known as a Herkimer diamond. Actually, I recently read an advertisement for jewelry made with Herkimer Diamonds. Somehow, I believe that those diamonds, big and small, were, maybe, made into what we used to call ‘jet’ necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets. Yes, one day, when we were living next to Herkimer, New York, the man who owned the antique store in the downtown called to me, as he had something for me. Wow! That he did! He gave me a rock that had the largest Herkimer diamond in it that I had ever imagined. What’s more, another Herkimer diamond, though smaller, accompanied it. He said he was going out of business and he wanted that Herkimer diamond to be mine, because I had done so much since moving to Little Falls, New York. Yes, we used to take our grandchildren to where Herkimer diamond ‘rocks’ were often found and they probably still have their ‘collections’….though the diamonds were tiny. Yes, WALLS and faithful readers, those diamonds were a result of the glacier’s slow movement through the part of our world which is now upstate New York.

Last Sunday, television told us about robots that will do what many folks do now. What an enlightening but frightening program. Yes, we already have driver-less automobiles and, Sunday night, we found that those developments are only ‘the tip of what is ahead in a few decades’.

Yes, faithful readers, WALLS will enlighten you in another column soon. The minds of our youth are working for us and our world. However, we must know where we’ve been to know where we are going.

Singers: Leslie Caron & Mel Ferrer; Composer: Walter Piston; Singer: Linda Ronstadt

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Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo

Sung by Leslie Caron and Mel Ferrer; side B, Lili and the Puppets, performed by Hans Sommer conducting the MGM Studio Orchestra; MGM K30759; seven-inch vinyl 45; recorded 1953.

Leslie Caron

Leslie Caron

This ‘45’ features the lovely Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo from the 1953 film, Lili, itself available on Youtube for viewing . Side B has the music for a ballet sequence during the story.

Caron was most famous for An American in Paris and Gigi and, in 2007, received an Emmy for her appearance on Law and Order: SVU. Now 85, she still does a guest role once or twice a year.

Piston: The Incredible Flutist

Mel Ferrer

Mel Ferrer

Copland: Appalachian Spring; Arthur Rother conducting the Symphony Orchestra of Berlin; Urania URLP 7092, 12-inch mono vinyl LP, released 1953.

A very fine conductor, Arthur Rother (1885-1972) was mainly steeped in 19th century German repertoire ranging from Beethoven to Richard Strauss, although he occasionally programmed works by Puccini, Britten, Tchaikovsky, etc. He was Director of the Berlin Deutsche Opera for at least a couple of decades and his name appears on many post-World War II radio broadcasts, transferred mainly to the Urania label and widely distributed here in the US. Finally and most importantly, despite working busily during the Hitler years, he also kept his hands clean.

Walter Piston

Walter Piston

This pair of important orchestral works by Walter Piston, who was born in Rockland, and Aaron Copland are given very exciting performances here and the LP frequently surfaces on Internet sites.

No cd transfer as of yet !!

Don’t Cry Now

Linda Ronstadt, Asylum SD 5064, 12-inch vinyl LP, recorded 1973.

Now 70, Linda Ronstadt has ended her singing career due to suffering from Parkinson’s disease. But for over 40 years, her singing career was one ravishing success after another.

After her short tenure with the Stone Poneys beginning in 1967 and the launching of a solo career two years later with two or three LPs of merit, she hit the motherlode with Don’t Cry Now. The album was, is and will remain a classic, as will Heart Like A Wheel which was released shortly after.
I reheard both of these recently after a number of years and found them still very listenable, although my tastes are quite different from the ‘70s, when I played them much too often and got sick of them.

Even now, I could happily shelve them for another 10 years .

Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt

I recently read that Ronstadt is a huge fan of Maria Callas recordings.

During the last two weeks, I have been working my way through the three seasons of Black List episodes on Roku. As far as I am concerned, Reddington is the most fascinating “hero” since Dexter and Justified’s Raylan Givens.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 13, 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!

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

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Roland D. Halleeby 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

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

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.