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

Good morning my friends.

Didn’t have room for all the Solon Elementary School news last week, so I’m finishing the Solon School News email I received. This fall students have received a colored pom-pon each time they did a good job meeting school expectations, displaying positive behaviors, or being helpful and/or cooperative as part of the new Positive Behavioral Intervention Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Students put these pom-pons in a jar on the counter behind Mrs. Weese’s desk. The students were told that there would be a schoolwide celebration when the jar was full.

Right before Christmas the pom-pon jar was filled. Fifth grader Fisher Tewksbury suggested that for the pupils reward they all play a winter version of the Hearts game they play every Valentine’s Day. So they did! K-5 students were divided into multiage teams to play this game, which is similar to Yahtzee, on December 19.

They also had a contest to see which male student, female student, and staff member could come closest to guessing the number of pom-pons in the jar. There were 709 pom-pons, each one representing a positive action by one of the students. winners were Stuart Hamblen, Katelyn DeLeonardis, and Mrs. Campbell.

Winners of the Hearts Drawing was Hunter Pouliot and Kaitlyn Soucle.

Superintendent of schools, Mike Tracy, joined the kindergarten class for Thanksgiving dinner on November 15. The class enjoyed his visit!

My many thanks for sending me this information to share.

Received the following e-mail from Angie Stockwell from the Margaret Chase Smith Library, in Skowhegan.

Dear Readers,

It’s difficult to imagine that a new year has begun and the first of our newsletters is ready for your reading enjoyment. Our front cover news is the election of Maine’s first woman governor and her connection to Senator Smith. A new exhibit on the 19th Amendment is near completion. Interestingly, the California fires bring back memories of Maine’s forest fires in 1947. National History Day in Maine is always in the works, as is our annual essay contest for high school seniors. The passing of President George H. W. Bush recalls the friendship of the Bush family. And our heartfelt thanks to all our donors who responded to our annual fund drive. It promises to be busy year and we’re grateful for our continued support. Best wishes for 2019.

The following email is from Happyknits. We’re thumbing our noses at winter with another Wine and Twine. Come join us at the Miller’s Table (just downstairs from Happyknits) on Saturday, January 19, from 4 – 6 p.m. Bring your project and a friend while we laugh, sip and nosh. Don’t feel like “wining”? Don’t feel like “twining?” That’s ok – just come anyway! We promise you’ll have a good time!

Do you know about Knit Night at Happyknits? It’s held every Tuesday night from 5 – 8 p.m. It’s free and open to everyone. Does that not work into your schedule? Happyknits has open knitting/crocheting every day of the week, so bring your project, a friend ( or two or three) and sit by our cozy fire. We have set aside Thursday afternoons (anytime) and Friday afternoons, from 2 – 4 p.m., if you want to gather with a group, but you are welcome to relax in our shop anytime we’re here. It’s cheaper than psychotherapy, and a whole lot more fun!

And now for Percy’s memoir: Hold fast your dreams! Within your heart Keep one still, secret spot Where dreams may go, And, sheltered so, May thrive and grow Where doubt and fear are not. O keep a place apart, Within your heart, For little dreams to grow! We see so many ugly things – Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings: We know alas! we know How quickly fade The color in the west, The bloom upon the flower. The bloom upon the breast And youth’s blind hour. Yet keep within your heart A place apart Where little dreams may go, May thrive and grow. Hold fast— hold fast your dreams! (words by Louise Driscoll.)

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Embden Community Center is having their monthly supper on January 12, at 5 p.m.

Embden Community Center, regular events are Neighbor to Neighbor Thrift Shop/Lending library 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Wed. and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fri. and Sat. The monthly Suppers on the second Saturday of each month. Country Sunday: 1 – 4 p.m., second and fourth Sunday. By donation. Sewing Class 10 a.m. – noon, Wednesdays. Weight Watchers: 5 – 6 p.m., Wednesdays. Come in and sign up- new members accepted. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 10:30 – 1:30 a.m., Wednesdays. Community Center meetings: 6:30 p.m., Thursday prior to the second Sat. Supper. Yoga: 6:30 p.m., (1 hour) Bring your mat, etc. and Sat. 8 a.m.; weekly by donation. If you have any questions, contact Wayne at 474-1065.

We are having a vacation from our Painting Club at Skowhegan Area High School, it will be starting up again the last of February. I’m looking forward to seeing all those artists who have been with me since the beginning, and to those who may want to join us.

Lief and I had a wonderful Christmas with our families and I hope all of you enjoyed the season as well.

Came across some old clippings when I was writing for the Skowhegan Reporter back in 1988. Had forgotten this one: It started with my greeting: “Good morning my friends! The other day when I went to the post office there was a package waiting for me there with the return address to AAA (American Automobile Association). When I opened the package the card was signed by a “concerned citizen” and it is a year’s insurance with this company! The only way I know of to thank this “concerned citizen” is through this column, because I have a sneaking suspicion that they probably read it. I do thank you from the bottom of my heart, it is a comforting feeling that someone cares enough to have surprised me with this unexpected gift and as the letter enclosed states: “Welcome to Maine and dependable travel world-wide! From this point on, everywhere you go, we go, providing all the protection and convenient services you need every time you leave home. “It is a bleak and hopeless feeling to break down along the road as I can vouch the day my wheel broke off; and so my many thanks for the kind thought until this detective mind of mine finds out who you and I can thank you in person!

Here is another one published in the Skowhegan Reporter on October 13, 1988. 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 $1.47 in interest and subtracted $2.74 for final bill, there is something very final about “final bill.” 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. (I don’t remember who the editor was at that time, but they were very good to me! (And if you are still alive and reading this paper, I would love to hear from you.)

And now for Percy’s memoir: “May you be blessed with Everything That Could Ever Bring You a Smile. And never forget each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.

“Every day, you’re given a chance to determine what the words will say and how the story will unfold. The more rewarding you can make each page, the more amazing the entire book will be.

“And I would love for you to write a masterpiece.” (words by Douglas Pagels.)

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 met on December 8, with Cooper Dellarma presiding. There were 20 members, three leaders and ten visitors present.

The club is doing a Christmas dinner for a family and it will be delivered on December 19.

East Madison Grange has invited three 4-H members to come and do demonstrations and talk on 4-H. This will be done in the spring.

A craft project using mason jars was done by the members. After awards, a gift enjoyed and refreshments were served.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, January 12, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station. Debra Kantor, extension educator will present officers training to the members.

Received the following e-mail from Linda French: We will not be moving the thrift shop and food cupboard to the location on South Main Street, in Solon, as we couldn’t come to an agreement with the owner of the property. The food cupboard will remain in operation at the old location on Pleasant Street. The hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the second and fourth weeks of the month. December hours will be different because of the holiday. They will be open Dec. 13 and 14, and December 20 and 21. They will be giving out the Christmas dinners on the 20 and 21. They will also be selling a few winter items and Christmas decorations starting on the December 12. Call 643-2855 for info.

Received the following SWT E-News: First a story of great achievement! Entitled My Personal War on Knotweed. You may have recently noticed a bare spot along the river at SWT’s Kennebec Banks Rest Area, This area has become overgrown with an invasive plant called Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) or Mexican Bamboo. It is very hardy, can grow to ten feet tall, and chokes off native plants. The knotweed had grown so thick and high that it was blocking the view of the river.

On April 23, 2018, Earth Day, Somerset Woods Trustees held a Volunteer Clean Up Day and a crew tackled the knotweed patch resulting in two pickup truck loads of knotweed.

Returning two weeks later, spring was in full bloom and so was the knotweed! It had grown back to knee to waist high.

My knotweed war began! I hit it with the weed whacker. But this stuff is tough and when the string hit the stalk it was like hitting a branch. I used two spools of string. The knotweed grew again and came back thicker and stronger. People would walk by, see me cutting the knotweed and they would say “oh, good luck,” or use Round-Up, kerosene, vinegar,” or ” you are never going to win.”

Looking up another weapon that can be a little more selective I dug around in a corner of my garage and found an old weed whip. It works like swinging a golf club! Once a week the war continued; don’t even think of skipping a week!

After this summer routine, success was apparent. Wild parsnip appeared and other ground plants covered the bare earth but then inexplicably, someone dug them up! But, milkweed and other flowering plants have started to return. Next year, if the knotweed returns, maybe I’ll get a goat. (This interesting story was written by SWT Trustee, Tom Hendricks.) I can relate to the story, because I was plagued with the persistent plant at my house on Ferry Street, in Solon.

There will be a bag sale Dec. 12, 14 and 15 (Hours: Wed. 10 a.m – 12:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) at the Embden Neighbor to Neighbor Thrift Shop. Small bags $1 and large bags $2 The Lending Library is open when the Thrift Shop is open.

And now for Percy’s memoir: There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow. (words by O. S. Marden.)

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

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

Many thanks go out for the Embden Historical Society 2019 Program which Carol Dolan sent to me, (plus a note of appreciation for putting their news in this paper!) It means a lot.

The Embden Historical Society, Inc. 2018-2019 officers are president, Carol Dolan; vice president, Larry Witham; secretary, Mary Frear; treasurer, Bob Donovan. executive committee members are one-year term, Jim Lightbody, Sr., two-year term, Lois Erickson; and three-year term, Andy Davis.

There won’t be any meetings of the Embden Historical Society during January and February.

Received the following e-mail from Angie Stockwell with the subject being the Margaret Chase Smith Library Newsletter, November 2018:

Dear Readers, It’s difficult to believe the holiday season is upon us! Here’s to good food, good friends, and great family fun. And perhaps you can enjoy an interesting read about all that we’ve been up to. Admiral Nora Tyson spoke about leadership at the MCS Lecture at UMaine; National History Day was featured; a new MCS Scholar has been named; the Leeke Lecture addressed the relationship between Russia and the U.S.; nine high school students competed for the Senate Youth program scholarship; and Dr. Richards spoke to a group of “Loose Ladies.” Thought that might spark your interest!

The only news I have from Solon this week, is that Lief and I enjoyed, not one, but several Thanksgivings with our families. Peter and Sherry held their annual family Thanksgiving celebration the Sunday before Thanksgiving day, with 28 of us gathered together. And Mark and Karen had driven up from Florida, as they do every year, to attend this wonderful event filled with love and great food! (Every year, it seems to me, it is better than the year before!) They decorate their garage, (which I think Peter built large enough, looking forward to these Thanksgiving family get-togethers!) I can’t begin to describe what the theme was this year, but getting together with family members makes this mother, grandmother, great -grandmother’s heart sing.

On the actual Thanksgiving Day, Lief and I had been invited to go to his daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Allen Fitzmaurice’s home for Thanksgiving dinner. But after a little while we got a call saying they had lost power, so we made plans to eat at a restaurant. Later in the afternoon, we went to their house and had dessert.

Lief’s son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Cheryl Bull had come up from Georgia and stayed with us on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The next morning we all got up and met Lief’s family at a restaurant for breakfast.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving my daughter, Mary invited Lief and I over for a Thanksgiving supper, which was very good also. Lief has been on a diet, but with all that good food, he put on a few pounds!

In doing research, I have come across some, what I think are interesting facts about Solon…..and since I don’t have much recent news, I’m going to print them. The first rural mail route was started April 1, 1899. Mr. Dudley Healey was the carrier.

Mr. Will Soper owned the first automobile about 1905. It was a two cylinder Cadillac.

Solon-Embden bridge first opened to teams April 19, 1911. Ansel Stevens was the first to cross from Embden. Lifelet Cooley first to cross over to Embden about one o’clock.

And now for Percy’s memoir: (It is a saying that he used when he was alive, but for some reason I didn’t put the date down.) How To Live A Hundred Years Happily. 1. Do not be on the outlook for ill health. 2. Keep usefully at work. 3. Have a hobby. 4. Learn to be satisfied. 5. Keep on liking people. 6. Meet adversity valiantly. 7. Meet the little problems of life with decision. 8. Above all, maintain a good sense of humor, best done by saying something pleasant every time you get a chance. 9. Live and make the present hour pleasant and cheerful. Keep your mind out of the past, and keep it out of the future.

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

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

The First Quarter Honor Roll at Solon Elementary School is as follows: High Honors All A’s is Amelia Cooper, Katelyn DeLeonardsis, Kaitlyn Dellarma, William Rogers and Aaron Soosman. Honors – All A’s & B’s: Isabella Atwood, Karen Baker, Kaylynn Clark, Paul Craig, David Dixon, Gavyn Easler, Lane Frost, Cody James, Aiden McLaughlin, Joseph McLaughlin, Nevaeh Palmer, Gavyn Perigo, Riley Pelkey, Macie Plourde, Jordynn Rishardson, Jillian Robinson, Annabell Roderick, Mylee Roderick, Kaitlyn Soucle and Fisher Tewksbury.

This year Solon Elementary School is implementing a Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program. You will see posters with the behavioral expectations hanging all around the school. You will also see a large jar of pom-pons behind Mrs. Weese’s desk. Students receive pom-pons from staff members when they do a good job following the expectations. Our goal is to fill the jar and then enjoy a schoolwide reward.

On October 11, the Solon Fire department visited the school to do presentations about fire safety in conjunction with Fire Safety Week. Firemen Todd Dixon and Richard Kelly, of the Solon Fire department, talked to the students about how to keep safe in the event of a fire. The firefighters brought goodie bags for the students.

One of the things mentioned in this news letter was Attendance Matters! Do you consider letting your children stay home from school on Early Release Days? It’s only half a day. They won’t miss much learning time. Please think again! Early Release Days are four and a half hours long. A lot of learning happens in four and a half hours. If students miss school on one of these days, it will take a lot of time to make up the work they missed, either during recess time or at home. And they miss the advantage of their teacher’s instruction.

Please send your children to school every day, even on those shorter days. Attendance Matters!

And now for more news about our young people in this area. The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, November 10, with president, Cooper Dellarma presiding.

The club received the outstanding club award at County Achievement night. Laci Dickey received the outstanding secretary award; Autumn Ladd, the dog; Matt, the poultry; and Devyn Deleadis, the photograph awards. These awards were all county awards.

Several of the members attended the Swag workshop on Saturday afternoon.

The members voted to adopt a family at Christmas with a nice dinner. They also voted to have a Christmas Party at the next meeting.

Officers elected for next year were president, Cooper Dellarma; vice president, Hunter Soucer; secretary, Laci Dickey; assistant secretary, Desmond Robinson; treasurer, Devyn Delanardis, assistant treasurer, Jillian Robinson; reporter, Sarah Craig, flag bearers, Matt Ladd and Isabella Atwood; assistant flag bearers, Katilyn Delanardis and Kaitlin Dellarma.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, December 8, at 9:30 at the Solon Fire Station.

Hope you enjoyed reading about our young people, and all they are doing as much as I did….and thanks so very much to those who shared it with us.

Received the following e-mail, and again thanks so much for sharing! “Home Alone on Thanksgiving Day? Veterans? Just need a good, hearty meal? Join the Community United Methodist Church for Thankgiving dinner! No charge. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, at the North Anson Community United Methodist Church Community Room (disabled accessible) Doors open at 10a.m., with refreshments, games and conversation. Full Thanksgiving dinner served at 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Community United Methodist Church of North Anson/Madison Congregation.”

And now for Percy’s memoir: “The courage of working for something you believe in, day in and day out, year after year, can be difficult but holds the greatest rewards. Find your ideal… and follow it.” (words by V. Sukomlin.)