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

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

Had a problem with my computer this morning, and I had to call Peter for help in fixing it. My many thanks for his help, don’t know what I would do without him.

Ever since this new year started, we have been having problems of one kind or another. All the snow has been a big problem. I’m sure many of you have had a hard time with that issue as well, and my sympathy goes out to you.

In January, I took my first ride in an ambulance, in all my many years (I don’t tell how many that is!). On February 20 Lief had to have a pace-maker and that was quite upsetting for awhile. They didn’t get one of the parts connected the first time, and he had to have it done twice. Then it was hard to keep him from doing things that he shouldn’t be doing! (He claims he has two pace-makers, and he points to his chest and then at me!)

Sorry to be negative, but it has been a bit hectic with all the appointments and all, but Lief is doing fine now and says he feels so much better, which is good.

My apologies for taking so long to report on the annual Solon town meeting. There were only 37 people who attended the meeting led by Moderator Peter Mills. There was a municipal resolution: The 2019 Solon, Maine, Maine Spirit of America Foundation Tribute honors Linda French for commendable community service.

A Resolution: Providing for: Recognition of Linda French. Be It Resolved by the Selectmen of the Town of Solon as follows : Whereas, Linda French has served as a Ballot Clerk for many, many years; and Linda served as a Library Trustee from 1991 through 1996; and Linda served on the Bicentennial Committee from 2006 through 2009; Linda has opened her home and her heart to numerous children in Solon and the surrounding towns and provided them with love, encouragement, and guidance, and sometimes a safe place to stay; Linda has supported families in our town by volunteering at and then managing the Solon Food Cupboard and Thrift Store for many years; now Be It Resolved by the Selectmen of the Town of Solon that Linda French is hereby recognized for her great achievements and honors that she has brought upon this community with the 2019 Solon Spirit of America Foundation Tribute; and Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution be appropriately framed and presented to Linda French for appropriate display. Congratulations, Linda, I am very proud of you.

Many of the first 29 articles passed with very little if any questions or discussion. Articles 30, 31 and 32, that have to do with the problem about the dispute with James Farley about land on the McQuilken Road, has yet to be settled. I will let you know when I hear from the selectmen. The meeting started at 1:30 p.m. and was over by 3:30 p.m., on March 2.

And now for Percy’s memoir: I’m walking down the road of life, My dreams within a sack, And though I always look ahead, There’s a joy in looking back. Things always seem much clearer, When there’s distance in between, And we get the right perspective, For at last we’ve really seen. For we fashion our tomorrows, From mistakes of yesterday, And we profit from the piper’s song, For which we had to pay. We are better for the lessons, That life teaches us so well; There would be no rising upward, If our feet had never fell. It is good to be a doer, But a dreamer has his place; It is helpful to remember, That the turtle won the race. I have found the highway straighter, But I love the beaten track… The view ahead is lovely, But I’m always looking back. (words by Grace E. Easley.)

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

Good morning, my friends, don’t worry, be happy!

This weeks’ column is going to start out a little different. It is about friendship and an amazing woman named Carolyn Waugh, of Solon.

I received the following letter after Carolyn died, from one of her friends who lives in Laconia, New Hampshire. I have no idea how this good friend of Carolyn’s got my name and address, but it is a beautiful letter about friendship, that I think should be shared. She started out:

“Carolyn Waugh, Teacher, Mentor, Friend to 1,000 children. Today, the last day of February 2019, I lost my best friend Carolyn Waugh. We were elementary teachers in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland, and we were the only ‘New Englanders’ in our school. We became fast friends from 1958 to the present day perhaps because we had the same New England accent and enjoyed our conversations each day. They reminded us of home and our loneliness was less each time we talked. Of course, we could understand one another.

“Few people know how generous Carolyn was to others, especially school age children. She made hundreds of mittens, an untold number of shirts and hats, paid for their lunches when no lunch money was available, and bought school supplies when the school funds had run out. Not once did she tell anyone of her generosity. She was the great example of a teacher you would want for your child. She was their friend, the mother substitute for the one that had left the home, the father substitute for the one who was no longer in the home. She dried their tears and told them how important and worthwhile they were. And she never missed a day of school except for severe illness.

“Today, as we ponder the loss of a dear friend and colleague, we are reminded that very good people have been among us, near us, and we should not forget to celebrate their life’s efforts.

“Carolyn Waugh was, indeed, a special person. In her obituary it mentions that Carolyn was educated in one room school houses in Embden, and at Solon High School. After graduating from high school in 1931 at the age of 15, she went to Normal School, in Farmington, and left there two years later with full teaching credentials. She taught in one room school houses in Embden, Cornville, Chesuncook, and other places in Maine and also helped other people to become teachers in a college level school in Presque Isle for a time.

“In November 1942 she joined the Army as a WAAC and WAC and achieved the rank of Tech 4. For part of her years in the service, she served in the Military Intelligence Division War Department. She was honorably discharged in November 1945. And her remarkable life with many more accomplishments continued until she died on February 28, 2019, at the age of 103 years. She had held the Boston Post Cane as Solon’s Oldest Citizen for several years.”

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, March 9, for their sixth meeting with Vice President Hunter Sousa presiding. Hunter Sousa is planning to do his demonstration on composting at the County Demonstration Tournament at the Somerset County Extension Office, in Skowhegan, on Saturday, March 16.

The club voted to make a basket for the Luck of the Draw on Saturday, May 4.

The following members gave their demonstrations: Desmond Robinson, How to make an Apple Swan; Isabelle Atwood and Jillian Robens, How to make Energy Bites; Kaitlin Dellarma, How to make Ice Cream; Macy Plourde, How to make Sun Catchers; and Brooks Sousa, How to make a Compost Barrel.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, April 13, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station.

And now for Percy’s memoir entitled Extra Prayer:

When the world falls down around you
And a prayer will see you through,
Say an extra prayer for someone
Who may need it more than you.
For who knows what hearts are breaking
In the silence of the night?
Just that extra prayer you whisper
May help someone see the light!
Every time you help a stranger
With an extra prayer – or two –
You are building secret blessings
That will all come back to you!

(words by Nick Kenny.)

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

Good morning my friends, Don’t worry, be happy!

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club held a meeting on February 16 with 15 members and two guests, Rebecca Johnson and Cynthia Lewis from GGC Member on Youth.

Three older members did presentations for examples. Cooper made butter, Laci made muffins and Hunter did compost. Those three will be doing the above presentations in the County Demonstrations on March 16.

Members made food plates to be delivered after the meeting.

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club members will be putting on the March 2 town meeting dinner from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., at the Solon School before the annual town meeting. They have been doing this for many years, money raised from this will be donated to the Solon Food Cupboard.

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club will also being having a Food Sale from 8 a.m. -noon on town meeting day.

Hope many of you will go and support this worthy club with these young people.

Another e-mail that I received from Jennifer Hebert tells of the upcoming Solon Congregational Church’s Inside Craft/Yard Sale. “We are hoping that you will be part of our 2019 Inside Craft/Yard Sale this year. It will be held at the Solon Elementary School on Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is a great winter blues buster for the community and always draws a good crowd! I am looking forward to hearing from you and having you at our event!”

Another e-mail that I received from Somerset Woods Trustees was very appreciated as usual. It is entitled, “CMP Transmission Line Proposal Wins Governor’s Support.”

Governor Janet Mills has issued her decision to support the 145-mile transmission line across western Maine’s North Woods that will carry hydropower to Massachusetts. Mills believes that the economic and environmental package offered by Central Maine Power is beneficial to Maine. A new 50-mile segment will be cut through the wilderness and a tunnel will be developed underneath the Kennebec River Gorge.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s Clean Energy Project Director Dylan Voorhees wrote in a press release that, “Mainers don’t support CMP’s corridor project because it is a bad deal for Maine and our environment. This massive corridor would cause large-scale damage to Maine’s North Woods, would not reduce carbon pollution, and could block local clean energy projects that would provide real jobs and benefits for Mainers. CMP’s settlement offer doesn’t change these fundamental problems. It strikes us as being a desperate and calculated move to win support.”

For more information about the above, the address is Somerset Woods Trustees, P.O. Box 833, Skowhegan, Maine 04976.

As many of you know, I feel very strongly about this proposed CMP Corridor, along with many that I have heard from, after they read my first letter to the editor. And some that I don’t know who are placing their feelings on STOP signs. Wonder how many of you have noticed the big red STOP signs, with the letters underneath CMP? Or some say under the big STOP trusting CMP!

And now for Percy’s memoir: The only way to find rainbows is to look within your heart; the only way to live fairy tales is through the imagination and power of your mind; the only place to begin a search for peace is within your soul; because rainbows, fairy tales, and peace are treasures that grow from the inside out. (words by Evelyn K. Tharp) (I used the above words 12 years ago, even before we lost Percy, hope you like them.)

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

Good morning my friends, don’t worry, be happy!

This is one of those weeks when I don’t have any real news to share, but I came across an old clipping (way back in 1988, when I was writing for the Skowhegan Reporter, and my byline back then was, Solon “The friendliest town in the state”). This particular column started, “After writing this column for over six years, some weeks I am hard put to think of something amusing or uplifting to share with you. Such was the case this week and then lo and behold on Saturday what should I find in my mail but an official looking letter from Central Maine Power Co. My heart skipped a beat and I opened it with trepidation because when I get riled over “the principle of the thing” I’m apt to get a bit sassy!

Anyway, inside, much to my wondering eyes, was a check for $48.73; this was the $50 deposit that I was told I couldn’t get back until 1993! They had added on $1.74 in interest and subtracted $2.74 for final bill, there is something very final about “final bill,” but keep in mind to run an air conditioner, sewing machine and a light bulb or two. Now whether this was one of those miracles that sometimes happen in my life or “the power of the press,” either way it did me a world of good and I had to share it with all of you.

Another thing in that same column was a picture of a pig with babies, and the head line, “And this little piggy went to Solon,” Linwood Tuscan, of Solon, got a surprise recently with eight piglets, the first litter from his sow.

In between all of that in this cut out column was lots of history that you don’t see any more (which bothers me, because it is hard to get personal news now, because of privacy matters). I’m going to print some of the old news that was in that column: “The Solon Extension will meet at the Firehall on Thursday, October 13, at 10:30 a.m., for the meeting entitled “What is U.M.C.E.S.?” This will be led by Ruby Gates, and the dinner will be in charge of the Bingham ladies. Another one is as follows: Officials From Solon who attended the Annual Maine Municipal Association Convention in Augusta were selectmen, first, Judy Robertson, second, James Hills, third, Dana Hall and town clerk, treasurer, and tax collector , Mary Jackson and her assistant Barbara Fish. Mary and Barbara stayed in Augusta for the three-day convention.

At the end of that column, also under the pig picture, were these words: ” Brings back memories of the pig rodeos we used to hold in Flagstaff on my uncle’s farm. My mother tried to bring me up to be a lady but probably because I was the littlest, I always got elected to ride the pigs. (Of course, she didn’t know about all of this until afterwards!)

I did get an e-mail about the Weston Woods is a 275-acre forest that has been part of the Weston Homestead of Madison for nearly 250 years. The classically-designed Federalist home, built in 1817, remains in nearly its original condition. The 55 acres of farmland with a mile of frontage on the Kennebec River is actively farmed and protected into perpetuity under an agricultural easement held by Maine Farmland Trust. The pristine forest remains to be protected and SWT holds an option to purchase, We have raised nearly half of the asking price but need your help.

Another little skrid of paper I found near my computer this morning is a good one for Percy’s memoir: “Never Be Discouraged: If we refuse to be discouraged and trust God’s Guiding Hand… So take heart and meet each minute with Faith in God’s Great Love, Aware that every day of life is controlled by God ‘s Great Love, Aware that every day of life is controlled by God Above… And never dread Tomorrow or what the Future brings, Just pray for strength and courage and trust God in all things… And never grow discouraged be patient and just wait For God never comes too early and He Never Comes Too Late!” (words by Helen Steiner Rice.)

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 had a meeting on January 12 with Cooper Dellarma presiding. At that meeting there were two leaders and 10 members present.

Three members have been invited to demonstrate and talk about 4-H. This will be done in the spring.

At the last meeting Hailey Dellarma did a presentation, followed by Debra Kanter doing a officer training, then she handed out pins and a folder with officer information on information on it.

On February 2, Sherri and Molly Thornton will be doing a work shop on winter care of animals from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at the Somerset County Extension office.

In February the Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club will be doing the food trays for the elderly.

Also at the February 4-H meeting, Laci Dickey and Cooper Dellarma will be doing their demonstrations instead of the leaders. This is something new that is being tried this year. All of the other members should be thinking of something they can do at the March meeting.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, February 17, at the Solon Fire Station at 9:30 a.m.

On Saturday, February 2, the Solon Congregational Church will be having a baked bean and casserole supper from 5 – 6 p.m., at the Solon Masonic Hall.

I recently received another e-mail from the New Hope Church, in Solon, and it starts, Dear Friends of the Shelter, “This one thing we know, “God is good all the time….And all the time He is GOOD!” While we often look at events in our lives as something that is such a surprise to us, we can rest assured that absolutely nothing surprises God and also we can know with certainty that He will make something good out of every situation if we are surrendered to His will! It is through this lens we can know that, in His sovereignty, God has a plan for our future here at New Hope Shelter after the loss of our church pastor and board president, Tim Hunt. God’s people have sustained all of us through their prayers and support. Pat and her family are doing well and are thankful as well for your prayers. The church now has two two interim pastors who will bring the messages for us over the next few months as we prayerfully seek the Lord’s direction for the right man who is being prepared by God to come and shepherd us here at New Hope Church. Pastor Tim taught a weekly Bible study and loved spending time to get to know the women and children of the shelter. He will be missed but we rejoice with him that he is now with his Lord and those who have gone on before. We know that when he entered the gates of heaven that he heard Jesus say, ‘Well done good and faithful servant !’ Thank you, Pastor Tim for all you did here at New Hope Church and the New Hope Shelter.”

The shelter, operating under the umbrella of the church, has a board of directors who help with policy decisions, procedures and rules, financial direction, and other general guidance. While the loss of our church pastor and board president is strongly felt, we know because of our years of working on developing a firm structure that the shelter will continue to move forward successfully while still under the oversight of our board of directors.

The above letter was signed, Blessings to you all in the New Year, by Rebecca Philpot.

Last week, I wrote that I would try and find out more about our up coming town meeting, but I didn’t put in Article 2: To elect all municipal officials and school committee members as are required to be elected. Nominated candidates: Selectman, three-year term; Elaine Aloes; Road Commissioner: Gary Bishop; Town Clerk/Tax Collector, one-year term: Christine Jablon and MSAD # 74 School Board Director, three-year term: Deron Whittemore.

Percy’s very much looked forward to memoir will be a short one, because I’m almost out of space: entitled; Winter’s White Gown; Snowflakes are falling Winter’s white gown, Gentley in motion They cover the ground. Beauty awaiting Softly in sound, Crystallized snowflakes Have touched Winter’s gown. Thank You, dear Master, For all that I see, And the snowflakes of splendor Adorning the trees. And the beauty of Winter Seems silent in sound, Season’s own loveliness Dressed up in white gown. (words by Katherine Smith Matheney.)