PHOTO: On goal
Nixon Souviney, of Winslow, directs this kick towards the opposing goal in soccer action. (photo by Central Maine Photography)
SCORES & OUTDOORS: The wild turkey our national bird? Maybe for just one day
Wild turkey
by Roland D. Hallee
Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey as the national bird of the United States, but he never publicly voiced his opposition to the bald eagle.
In a letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache, on January 26, 1783, he wrote how he disapproved of the Society of Cincinnati, which he described as a chivalric order, for having a bald eagle in its crest.
He wrote, “Others object to the bald eagle, as looking too much like a Dindon [turkey]. For my own part I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree near the river, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labour of the fishing hawk [osprey]; and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him.”
The wild turkey, throughout its range, plays a significant role in the cultures of many Native American tribes all over North America. Eastern Native American tribes consumed both the eggs and meat. They provided habitat by burning down portions of forests to create artificial meadows which would attract mating birds, and thus making the hunting of the turkeys much easier.
Of course, clothing and headdress of many chiefs and significant people of the tribe were made from turkey feathers.
Thanksgiving is next week, but do we really know anything about the bird that we cherish at our dinner tables on that day?
There are two species of large birds in the genus Meleagris native to North America. The domestic turkey is the bird most commonly referred to when the term “turkey” is used.
Turkeys have a distinctive fleshy wattle that hangs from the underside of the beak, and a fleshy bulge that hangs from the top of its beak called a snood. As with many species, the female (hen) is smaller than the male (tom or gobbler), and much less colorful. With wingspans of almost six feet, the turkeys are by far the largest birds in the open forests in which they live, and are rarely mistaken for any other species.
When Europeans first encountered turkeys in the Americas they incorrectly identified the birds as a type of guineafowl, also known as a turkey-cock from its importation to Central Europe through Turkey, and the name of that country stuck as the name of the bird. The confusion is also reflected in the scientific name: meleagris is Greek for guinea-fowl.
The name given to a group of turkeys is a rafter, although they are sometimes incorrectly referred to as a gobble or flock.
Several other birds which are sometimes called turkeys are particularly closely related: the Australian brush-turkey and the Australian Bustard. The bird sometimes called a Water Turkey is actually an Anhinga.
While the large domestic turkey is generally unable to fly, the smaller wild turkey can fly extremely well. This is usually enough to perch in the branches of trees, however, it is an ineffective method of transportation. Turkey chicks are unable to fly for the first two weeks after they hatch.
And what about the first Thanksgiving? Many myths.
As the Puritans prepared for winter in 1621, they gathered anything they could find, including Wampanoag supplies.
One day, Samoset, a leader of the Abenaki, and Tisquantum (better known as Squanto) visited the settlers. Squanto was a Wampanoag who had experience with other settlers and knew English. Squanto helped the settlers grow corn and use fish to fertilize their fields. After several meetings, a formal agreement was made between the settlers and the native people and they joined together to protect each other from other tribes in March of 1621.
One day that fall, four settlers were sent to hunt for food for a harvest celebration. The Wampanoag heard gunshots and alerted their leader, Massasoit, who thought the English might be preparing for war. Massasoit visited the English settlement with 90 of his men to see if the war rumor was true.
Soon after their visit, the Native Americans realized that the English were only hunting for the harvest celebration. Massasoit sent some of his own men to hunt deer for the feast and for three days, the English and native men, women, and children ate together. The meal consisted of deer, corn, shellfish, and roasted meat, far from today’s traditional Thanksgiving feast. Notice, there was no turkey.
Although prayers and thanks were probably offered at the 1621 harvest gathering, the first recorded religious Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth happened two years later in 1623. On this occasion, the colonists gave thanks to God for rain after a two-month drought.
Much of what most modern Americans eat on Thanksgiving was not available in 1621.
The peace between the Native Americans and settlers lasted for only a generation. The Wampanoag people do not share in the popular reverence for the traditional New England Thanksgiving. For them, the holiday is a reminder of betrayal and bloodshed. Since 1970, many native people have gathered at the statue of Massasoit, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, each Thanksgiving Day to remember their ancestors and the strength of the Wampanoag.
One other thing about the turkey. Did you know that it missed by one vote of being our national bird instead of the bald eagle.
Kind of gives you some food for thought, doesn’t it?
Roland’s trivia question of the week:
Where did the NHL franchise New Jersey Devils begin?
Roland’s Trivia Question for Thursday, November 18, 2021
Where did the NHL franchise New Jersey Devils begin?
Answer:
They originated as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974. Two years later, 1976, they moved and became the Colorado Rockies, before moving to New Jersey in 1982.
EVENTS: Elvis impersonator at Victor Grange November 20, 2021
Victor Grange
Victor Grange #49 sponsors a dinner theater evening starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Grange Hall, located at the junction of Routes 139/104 and 23 in Fairfield Center.
The Fairfield Masonic Lodge, Siloam Lodge #92 A.F. & A.M., is co-sponsoring the evening. Proceeds will benefit the Grange’s programs for seniors.
Admission for dinner and the show is $20. Tickets are available by calling 453-9476, 453-2082 or 453-6937.
Elvis Impersonator, Don Boudreau
The dinner menu is turkey pie and trimmings. The program is by Sidney’s own Elvis Tribute Artist Don Boudreau, alias EP Rock.
Boudreau is a Waterville native who grew up listening to Elvis Presley and the Beatles. He has played guitar since soon after high school.
He credits joining the Sacred Heart Folk Choir and the influence of his father-in-law, Waterville “guitar legend” Clem Boulette, and guitar teacher Steve Fotter for forwarding his musical career. For years, he said, he and his wife Tina played contemporary praise and worship music.
Boudreau served as worship leader and music director for several churches. The couple also taught music, Boudreau guitar and his wife voice.
Amusing himself and family members with his Elvis impersonations led Boudreau to be persuaded to enter a 1995 talent show, which he won. In 2008 he and his wife visited Graceland.
A year later, a Fairfield pastor asked him to perform to help raise oil money for senior citizens, and provided a gold lame jacket. In 2010, someone who saw the show asked Boudreau to be Elvis at a birthday party for a person with special needs. Requests snowballed, until EP Rock appears up to 100 times a year up and down the eastern seaboard. from New Jersey to Canada.
“Since I was always in music ministry, I feel this was God’s way of calling me into something that would be a ministry to other people. Nursing home entertainment was something God was putting on my heart as well. I never dreamed or had an intention of being an Elvis Tribute Artist; it just happened by God’s providential circumstances,” Boudreau said.
He has expanded his repertoire to include an Early Beatles Tribute – he knows about 80 Beatles songs, and 400 Elvis songs – and offers jazz guitar standards “and, of course, Christmas music.”
Boudreau will sing and play for private family celebrations; fundraisers; group events at nursing and retirement homes and fairs; or church, school or town events. He can be reached at boudreau.don@gmail.com; via booking websites like The Bash and Gig Salad; or by finding EP Rock Elvis Impersonator on line.
NEWS FROM THE VA: It seems the negatives outweigh the positives
Veterans Affairs Regional Benefit Office Togus, ME
by Gary Kennedy
Well, here we are again and I wish I had a lot of great news to share with you but these are trying times and, unfortunately, it seems the negatives out-weigh the positives. It seems even some of the positives are masking negative intent. I have received much anxious correspondence lately, it causes me some very deep thought; I never thought I’d see what appears a good thing masking as something else. It is so negative to be searching for an ulterior motive for what would normally be taken on its face as a good thing.
Recently, VA’s center Director and Regional Director made rapid decisions with a very large amount of money lying in its coffers. There are some of us who have a great deal of knowledge regarding V.A. and its history and needs. We have watched this Covid epidemic used in what some believe to be a distorted way. It has been authorized to build roads, sidewalks, two very large buildings while at the same time take advantage of the Covid epidemic and shutdown and/or eliminate some very essential path-ways to well being.
During this time of calamity, while there are those who think no one is watching, veteran services are being undermined, even destroyed. Some examples would be the veteran outreach program which is doomed to self destruct. Originally, the politicians sought a way to service all veterans in a like manner. Some veterans live in remote areas. Two things come into play here and they are the distance veterans still have to travel for care, but most importantly it should be quality care.
Vietnam era vets such as myself are now reaching the end of the line, so in order to grab those last few years, we need quality help. Reducing distance is only good for the menial of medical problems. Those of us who have suffered through cancer and many other trying medical problems need a large medical facility with MDs, specialists to help us achieve the edge we need. Instead we find life and death decisions and treatment are being handled by nurse practitioners, PAs and other such medical people, who are great to a point but that point should and must have its limits.
We are even importing medical people from India, Pakistan and the Philippines to name only a few. Don’t take me wrong, some of these medical people are specialists who will work for less money and the ability to become American citizens. Although this is unfair immigration, realizing there are paid waiting applicants, who are waiting their turn, it does give us quality needed people.
Until this past year we were paying outside practitioners exactly what they billed for their service. Well, in less than a year that came to a screaming halt. I spoke with medical representatives who now refuse to take veterans because the VA had cut the fees to between 35-51 percent of the bill they submitted. I had one office manager in Portland say, “we are a specialty operation and we have to pay our people a top salary as they are all professionals. We can’t do that on what the VA has limited us to now. We just can’t take veterans anymore.” That is something that is going to become more frequent. VA knew what they were doing and it is coming back to bite them.
What started out as a potential good thing is rapidly turning sour. Look at the wait times now. I personally was given a clinic appointment which I kept and was told I would be seen in a couple of weeks to finish it up. That was just the paperwork, information and partial exam. I received a call last week stating my wait to finish just the interview part would be three more months. My condition was/is serious and service connected. I used to be treated for this with weekly injections, or as needed. As you know I also work with veterans and help them with their cases to get medical help as well as claim resolution. Even though I have near death situations on my desk I will still have to wait.
Recently the Veterans Administration hired V.A. Advocates. When that program first started I offered to volunteer and that was considered great. That was the last conversation we had. Oh yes, there is money to hire. There are signs everywhere but still our men and women vets are being farmed out to strange facilities. Some vets have been going to Togus VA for many years and feel comfortable there. Another point I’d like to make is given the average age of Togus patients, Neurology is a very important department. Recently, the most knowledgeable neurologist who had worked there for many years decided to retire. I had a private conversation with her about what was going on and that we would miss her. She said, “Why? I really can’t do much for you.” She explained she could do some basic stuff but the rest would have to be done somewhere else. I asked, “Why?” she said, “we talked about this before”. We have no EMG equipment; it’s all broken and VA chooses not to replace it. What good is a carpenter without his hammer? I finally remembered I had addressed this before and had written a short letter as well as paid a visit to the director’s office. I received no response from either.
The last thing I will mention today and only because I hear about this a lot, and that is physical therapy. The therapy room itself is empty on most days. The most important and least expensive is the gym and pool. We are one of the only V.A.s with such a great set up in which therapy with caregivers can be accomplished without paying all but one person and yet the benefits it gives we older veterans are immeasurable. There is need for a lifeguard but the benefits to those of us with limb problems are great.
I would be remiss in my reporting and responding to the veteran’s questions if I didn’t mention the clever way that security stations have been placed at all entrances. Veterans use to be free to visit their home away from home but now they don’t feel comfortable. Also, there are many phones not being answered, thus causing walk-ins. The security booths were originally set up temporarily but now they are obviously permanent paid positions. All clubs and gyms with pools are open but are not user friendly to our vets.
I hear much about this and I believe action is being taken on behalf of the vets. If you have been harmed in anyway by this unnecessary act please share it with us so we can address it. We don’t want the VA being treated politically.
Stay calm and safe my fellow brother/sister veterans. You are not alone during these trying times. Just because the Service Organization doors are closed doesn’t mean there isn’t help. Call your organization for help and Senator Collins and King’s office are still working. I go there and you can as well. Like I told you in my last column, don’t let the news stations get you down. There is more reality in the cartoon stations these days and they won’t depress you.
God bless you all, stay strong and help one another.
CHINA: Rollins, Wilkens to lead planning board
by Mary Grow
China Planning Board members began their Nov. 9 meeting by electing new leaders, since former Chairman Randall Downer has retired. Co-chairman Toni Wall moved that Scott Rollins become chairman and James Wilkens co-chairman; the motion was approved.
Rollins welcomed new member Michael Brown.
Board members then unanimously approved both commercial applications on their agenda, finding they met all criteria in town ordinances.
Jayson Mortimer has approval to open an automobile service business in the existing garage by his home at 86 Vassalboro Road. Michael Marois has approval to add more than 100 cubic yards of fill to expand seating and parking at his MJEK Seafood and Grill, at 239 Lakeview Drive.
The board’s short public hearing on Mortimer’s application drew no comments. Mortimer still needs a sign permit from Codes Officer Jaime Hanson, and he said he is waiting for state approval of his proposed inspection station.
Marois intends to move the outdoor seating area south and turn the present seating area into parking, he said.
Rollins reminded the applicants that neighbors have 30 days to appeal the board decision. Neither man expects objections. Mortimer said at an earlier meeting that he has helped several neighbors with their vehicles, and Marois commented, “Most of my neighbors are family.”
The next China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23.
China TIF members approve revised application form
by Mary Grow
Five members of China’s Tax Increment Financing Committee (TIF) used their Nov. 15 meeting to make administrative updates.
The major action was approval of a revised application form for groups seeking TIF funding. The form asks for information on how the money will be used and provides for a liaison person from the committee for each group.
In past years, TIF funds have been used by local organizations and town officials for a variety of purposes aimed at promoting economic development. Many involve recreation, directly or indirectly – for example, money for walking trails in town-owned Thurston Park and snowmobile trails maintained by the Four Seasons Club; assistance with water quality projects, especially in China Lake; and money for fireworks at the annual China Days celebration.
Each committee liaison person will help with applications and oversee projects to make sure town funds are spent as proposed, according to committee members’ discussion.
Last spring, committee members prepared and voters approved amendments to China’s TIF plan, which lists types of allowable expenditures. The revised plan still awaits approval from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD); committee member Jamie Pitney said approval is expected soon.
The plan lists proposed maximum amounts to be allocated for various projects in future years. At the Nov. 15 meeting, the majority of committee members thought groups’ requests for allocations were adequate as applications for 2020-21 expenditures, once DECD allows them.
However, Pitney said, DECD officials required additional language saying TIF funds cannot be used for municipal building projects. There are two fund requests for buildings pending.
The Four Seasons Club and the Thurston Park Committee each plan a building, primarily for equipment storage. Pitney said the Four Seasons Club can build with TIF money; but because Thurston Park is town-owned, TIF funds cannot be used for a building there.
Committee Chairman Tom Michaud, who volunteered as liaison with the Thurston Park Committee, said he will talk with Chairman Jeanette Smith as soon as possible.
The next TIF Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, if there is a need to meet. Otherwise, the next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.
PHOTO: Cub Scouts carve their great pumpkins
Cub Scouts from Skowhegan Cub Pack #485 show off the great pumpkins they carved in time for Halloween. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)
Scouts learn about trucks
Two Scouts, Gage Brunelle, left, and Gage McFarland, both of Windsor, happily climbed into McGee Construction trucks. (contributed photo)
Augusta Cub Scout Pack #684 held a “Touch A Truck” event on Saturday, October 23, at Mill Park. Youth from around the area climbed on, and in, large rigs and small earthmovers learning from the owners how each worked. The event also had information about Cub Scouting for those who struggle and wanted more than one day of fun. Cubmaster Shawn McFarland said, “This was our first time doing this event and it got postponed once due to weather earlier in autumn. It was great to see kids having fun and learning and exploring. We will have this again next year.” He thanked NRF, Maine X Construction, Steven A McGee Construction, New Gen Powerline, Bisson transport, and the city of Augusta for their support.
Katie Brann named emerging leader of the year by CM Growth Council
Katie Brann
Central Maine Growth Council and KV Connect are pleased to present their 2021 Emerging Leader of the Year Award to Katie Brann, chairman of KV Connect, the young professionals’ group of mid-Maine, and Financial Advisor at Golden Pond Wealth Management, in Waterville. The award was presented at Central Maine Growth Council’s Annual Meeting celebration, sponsored by Central Maine Motors, Kennebec Savings Bank, MaineGeneral Health, New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, and Huhtamaki.
Katie has been involved with KV Connect since February of 2020, previously serving as the organization’s treasurer and marketing committee chairman, currently serving as chairman of the organization. A 2016 graduate of Boston University, Katie returned to her home state of Maine to pursue a career in financial services where she supports clients in comprehensive financial planning and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing. Katie received her Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation in March of 2021. In addition to her leadership of KV Connect, Katie also serves on the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Marketing and Membership committee and serves as the varsity field hockey coach at Messalonskee High School in Oakland.
“Katie embodies outstanding leadership, impact, and performance within the region’s emerging youth workforce and is continually working to create an environment to facilitate responsible investing, creativity, and innovation of young people to excel, develop, and grow. Working closely with Katie through KV Connect, her passion for the Kennebec Valley region shines through her organization of several community initiatives, including our Yoga in the Park and Pints with a Purpose series”, states Sabrina Jandreau, vice-chairman of KV Connect and development coordinator at Central Maine Growth Council. “Her drive and commitment to celebrating the region’s young professionals are a testament to her dedication for making mid-Maine an attractive location to live and work in.”
During a time of robust growth and development in central Maine, Katie’s stewardship has spotlighted KV Connect as an organization that champion’s connectivity through relationship building, community service, social media marketing, and placemaking initiatives, encouraging the continued retention and recruitment of young professionals to the region. At the forefront of KV Connect’s continued growth, Katie’s passion for cultivating opportunities for networking and development will sustain further expansion of the organization’s membership and encourage greater participation by young professionals throughout mid-Maine.
“Waterville is an incredible community and provides a compelling site profile for those who wish to enjoy the area’s eateries, diverse recreational opportunities, or start a business”, said Katie. “Having the opportunity to bridge the gap between young professionals and networking has provided KV Connect with the tools to showcase and celebrate all the region has to offer with those who are new to the area or are just starting out in their careers.”