Roland’s Trivia Question, Week of May 24, 2018
The 1927 New York Yankees batting order, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, was known by what nickname?
Answer:
Murderer’s Row.
I’m Just Curious: Interesting facts?
by Debbie Walker
Kids have some really good books. My latest example would be National Geographic KIDS, 5,000 Awesome Facts (about everything). Kathy is lucky; she gets any work out of me at school with all the books! I love books but you may have figured that out already. Anyway, the following is my latest and I hope you find some of it interesting to you.
North America’s only marsupial, the nocturnal Virginia Opossum, pretends to be dead = “Playing Opossum” – for up to six hours when threatened.
If a dolphin becomes sick, other dolphins will take turns pushing it to the surface so it can breath.
British author Ian Fleming, who created the character James Bond, was a spy himself during World War II.
A palindrome is a word that is spelled the same backward as forward such as noon, kayak, and race car.
Sign language is not a universal language – each country has its own sign language and vocabulary and grammar vary by region.
The word Quiz also means “odd person.”
A group of prisoners is called a PITY.
An Australian slang, “Bingle,” is a car accident, a “Captain Cook” is a look around, and a “whinger” is a complainer.
A Canadian Ice Breaker Ship weighs 33 million pounds and can break through thick ice sheets that are 62 feet thick. (Do we need one of those in Maine?)
Here are some survival facts. But I would check and double check on these before you rely on them.
Drinking salt water is worse than not drinking at all. Saltwater actually dehydrates you.
The International sign of distress when using fire is to build three fires in a triangle.
Quick sand can be an issue in some parts of Maine. The best way to escape Quicksand is to calmly lean back as if doing a back float. Slowly move your feet in small circles until you free yourself and can paddle to safe land.
Moving your arms like you’re swimming and keeping your mouth shut so snow doesn’t pack into your throat can help you survive an avalanche.
Compacted snow is like a recording studio sound proofed. When buried in snow, it’s a waste of oxygen to shout for help unless someone is very close by.
You are more likely to survive a shark circling your surf board if you stay calm. Thrashing around makes you look like its favorite food – a seal.
I love this one: A bear cub that survived a New Mexico forest fire in 1950 was nursed back to health and taken to the National Zoo. He became known as Smokey Bear!
If you count the seconds between the Lightning flash and the thunder and then divide by 5, that’s how many miles away the lightning is. It’s closer than you think.
Well, I hope some of this was informational for you, I enjoyed it and I haven’t gone a quarter of the way through the book. I probably won’t do much more of it unless you ask. Needless to say I’m Just Curious if I will hear from you. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com and don’t forget to check us out online. Thanks for reading!
REVIEW POTPOURRI – Composer: Giuseppe Tartini; Singer: Annette Funicello; Band: Antal Kocze and his Gypsies
by Peter Cates
Giuseppe Tartini
D minor Violin Concerto; Pietro Nardini: E minor Violin Concerto; and Giovanni Battista Viotti Violin Concerto No. 22; Peter Rybar, violinist, with Clemens Dahinden conducting the Winterhur Symphony Orchestra; Westminster XWN 18192, mono LP, recorded 1952.
Peter Rybar
This very antiquated LP contains very lovely examples of 18th century Italian composers, who were also very gifted and acclaimed violinists. The Viotti Concerto being my special favorite, all three Con certos are beautiful creations and played with exceptional feeling by violinist Peter Rybar (1913-2002) and nicely accompanied by Switzerland’s Winterhur Symphony under the able Clemens Dahinden.
Before Rybar’s recordings were transferred to CD, their LP issues could fetch 200 bucks, if they were in mint condition! Finally, the recorded performances can be heard on youtube in separate posts.
Annette Funicello
The Story of My Teens
Buena Vista- BV 3312, lp, recorded 1962.
Annette Funicello
The most popular singer, actress and all-around personality to be mentored by Walt Disney himself, Annette Funicello (1942-2013) had a very sweet endearing presence. As a kid, I found that she definitely held my attention in her numerous TV appearances, and remember her, Tommy Sands, Ray Bolger and Ed Wynn in 1962’s Babes in Toyland.
I also admired her cheerfulness and courage during her last 21 years of suffering from MS and was saddened by her tragic passing five years ago.
The above album contains most all of her hit singles and should be listened to in small doses at best; the early ‘60s chewing gum genre had way too much sugar content, although the arrangements were quite good. Yet I did read that she really didn’t enjoy recording!
Antal Kocze and his Gypsies
Gypsy Songs and Czardas, Volume 3
Westminster WL 3013, 10-inch LP record, recorded 1954.
During my decades of trying to listen to every record that falls into my lap, I have heard a number of them featuring gypsy music, most of them ranging from barely tolerable to okay. Kocze’s players are new to me and, based on back cover info, were very popular in Europe during the first half of the last century. After playing this record, I understand why. The music is very beautiful and beautifully performed with sentiment, taste and discerning intelligence, one charmer of an album.
Some interesting facts – the music of Kocze and his colleagues often served as unintrusive background ambiance for the adulterous flings of various Habsburg wastrels in exclusive cafes before the dynasty’s power became history. Secondly, the very former Prince of Wales, before his short-lived term as Edward VIII, heard the ensemble and invited Kocze to London to play two nights for Papa George V. Finally, the great conductor, Arturo Toscanini, was so impressed that he wrote some music for the band.
Ranked choice voting explained, along with summary of people’s veto of RCV
On June 12, voters will cast ballots in a statewide Special Referendum Election and Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap is reminding all Maine voters of an informational resource that can help them make an informed decision at the polls: the 2018 Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/pdf/guide618.pdf .
The Citizen’s Guide is intended to provide as much information as possible so that voters have a convenient resource to educate themselves before casting their ballot. The Department of the Secretary of State, in collaboration with the attorney general, prepared the guide as an unbiased and non-partisan review of the People’s Veto question that voters will consider at the polls this June.
Question 1 asks: “Do you want to reject the parts of a new law that would delay the use of ranked-choice voting in the election of candidates for any state or federal office until 2022, and then retain the method only if the constitution is amended by December 1, 2021, to allow ranked-choice voting for candidates in state elections?
In the guide, voters can read the full text of the People’s Veto legislation, along with an analysis of its intent and content. Voters can also learn the impact of a yes or no vote. Election law also allows for citizen advocacy statements to be published supporting or opposing questions, which provides voters with those viewpoints to consider; one public comment was filed in support of this question and no public comments were filed in opposition.
Voters can request absentee ballots online at http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl via the Secretary of State’s website. Absentee ballots can also be requested in person, by phone or by mail from the voter’s municipal clerk. For more information http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/munic.html.
The final rules governing the tabulation of ranked-choice voting ballots are now available on the Maine Department of the Secretary of State website, along with an animated video (see above) that shows how the tabulation will work. On June 12, 2018, this method of voting will be used for the first time ever in a statewide election as voters cast their ballots in the primary election.
The Ranked-Choice Voting Resources page offers several informational resources for voters who are seeking to educate themselves about ranked-choice voting, including:
- the final version of the rules that will govern tabulation of the votes;
- an animation explaining how the ranked-choice ballot can be marked and the tabulation;
- sample ballots for the four ranked-choice voting races;
- sample marked ballots with explanations of how such markings will be tabulated;
- frequently asked questions (FAQ);
- a printable .pdf “RCV Fact Sheet” for voters to review and share with others;
- an implementation plan showing the Department’s progress and preparation; and a timeline showing how the State of Maine came to use this voting method.
Public Comment Period is Now Open On Wording of November Referendum Question.
Demacratic Sample ballot
To vote, fill in the oval. To rank your candidate choices, fill in the oval; In the first column for your first choice candidate; in the second column, for your second choice candidate, and so on. Continue until you have ranked as many or as few candidates as you like. FILL IN NO MORE THAN ONE OVAL FOR EACH CANDIDATE OR COLUMN. To rank a write-in candidate, write the person’s name in the write-in space and fill in the oval for the ranking of your choice.
Republican sample ballot
SOLON & BEYOND: African minister visits Solon and delivers Sunday sermon “Refuse to Fear”
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979
Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry be happy!
Rev. Charles Sagay, from Cameroon, Africa, has been staying at the home of David and Mary Walz, in North Anson, for a week. He gave the sermon entitled “Refuse to Fear” at the May, 20 North Anson Congregational Church service.
After the church service, a light lunch was served. During the luncheon, Rev. Charles’ presentation of what is happening at the Mission School of Hope was shown. The North Anson Church supports this worthy mission each year and every time he comes he shows pictures of the many improvements that have been made, it is very impressive and heart warming of what love can do.
The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, May 12, at the Solon Fire Station with Cooper Dellarma.
Several members and four leaders helped at the Luck of the Draw on May 5.
On Mothers Day four members and one guest passed out flowers at the Solon Congregational Church.
Seven members are planning to attend Fun Day at Lake George on Wednesday, June 20.
After the meeting Logan Miller showed the members how to make key chains and dog leashes.
The next meeting will be on Saturday, June 9, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station. Following the meeting the members will be going on an educational tour to the Buffalo Farm, in South Solon.
The North Anson Congregational Church will be having an indoor rummage and bake sale at the church on Saturday, June 2, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Received the following e-mail from Happyknits and thought you knitters out there would be interested. “We’ve got a lot of fun happenings coming up at Happyknits, and we hope you will be able to join us for some or all.”
If you think of ocean waves when you think of a cruise, well, think again! Happyknits will be one of the 20 locally-owned yarn shops across the state of Maine participating in the summer-long Maine Yarn Cruise, a shop hop for yarn lovers. Anytime from May 25 through September 3, stop in any participating shop and pick up your passport, and a tote bag or a pin and then hit the road. Each shop will be offering monthly prizes, and everyone who completes the entire “cruise” will be eligible to win the grand prize, They have some extra goodies to offer folks who start the cruise here, so stop in!
While you’re here, throw your name into the hat for Main Street’s #ShopSkowhegan raffle. Happyknits has joined with lots of other locally-owned businesses that are offering shoppers a chance to win a free $25 gift certificate to their stores while supporting our towntown.
And speaking of Skowhegan, Happyknits will be celebrating Worldwide Knit in Public Day (yes, there really is such a thing!) and the Skowhegan Moose Festival by gathering at the moose at Gifford’s Ice Cream on Saturday, June 9, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. They’ll have some special moose-related kits available too. So grab your folding chair and your work-in-progress and join them for a fun time! (Sounds like lots of fun!)
In my column last week I wrote about Percy and I starting our own little paper. In my continuing efforts to organize I came across some old e-mails I had saved about my short career as a publisher of a paper. I’m not going to say who sent this one to me back in 2005, but he was a writer for a paper. It starts out: “Hi, Marilyn, Hope you didn’t fall down from skock! Just wanted you to let you know I got your newspaper. Looks great! You’re doing quite a job and lots of news. I told Roland about your paper. The only thing he said was you should look into having it photocopied. The charge is based on copies so he thought maybe the more you do the better the rate. It might not be that costly. I wondered if you could make smaller margins and reduce the size of the type to get more onto a page and cut some of the cost.That’s my two cents worth! I’m glad you’re able to get the news out. I know how bad people need it and want it.”
This week Percy’s memoirs is about grave stone markers: In a London, England cemetery: Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived an old maid But died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767. And another, Harry Edsel Smith, of Albany, New York: Born 1903 – died 1942; Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was.
ERIC’S TECH TALK – The A.I. Singularity: Are you ready?
The rogue A.I. HAL9000 from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (© Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).
by Eric W. Austin
In the beginning, claim the physicists, the universe existed as a single point — infinitely small, infinitely dense. All of time, all of space, literally everything that currently exists was contained in this unbelievably small cosmic egg. Then, before you can say “Big Bang,” quantum fluctuations caused it to rapidly expand and the rest, as they say, is history.
This is called the Singularity. The beginning of everything. Without it there would be no Earth, no sun, no life at all. Reality itself came into being at that moment.
Now, in the 21st century, we may be heading toward another singularity event, a moment in history that will change everything that follows. A moment that will revamp reality so drastically it can be referred to by the same term as the event at the very beginning of all existence.
This is the Technological Singularity, and many experts think it will happen within the next 50 years.
Fourteen billion years ago, that first singularity was followed by a rapid expansion of time and space that eventually led to you and me. This new technological singularity will also herald an expansion of human knowledge and capability, and will, like the first one, culminate in the creation of a new form of life: the birth of the world’s first true artificial superintelligence.
Our lives have already been invaded by artificial intelligence in ways both subtle and substantial. A.I. determines which posts you see in your Facebook feed. It roams the internet, indexing pages and fixing broken links. It monitors inventory and makes restocking suggestions for huge retailers like Amazon and Walmart. It also pilots our planes and will soon be driving our cars. In the near future, A.I.s will likely replace our pharmacists, cashiers and many other jobs. Already, a company in Hong Kong has appointed one to its board of directors, and it’s been predicted A.I.s will be running most Asian companies within five years. Don’t be surprised to see our first A.I. elected to Congress sometime in the next two decades, and we’re likely to see one running for president before the end of the century.
We even have artificial intelligences creating other artificial intelligences. Google and other companies are experimenting with an approach to A.I. development reminiscent of the evolutionary process of natural selection.
The process works like this: they create a number of bots – little autonomous programs that roam the internet performing various tasks – which are charged with programming a new set of bots. These bots create a million variations of themselves. Those variations are then put through a series of tests, and only the bots which score in the top percentile are retained. The retained versions then go on to make another million variations of themselves, and the process is repeated. With each new generation, the bots become more adept at programming other bots to do those specific tasks. In this way, Google is able to produce very, very smart bots.
This is a rudimentary example of how we will eventually produce an artificial intelligence that is the equal of (and eventually surpasses) the human mind. It will not be created by us, but will instead be programmed by a less advanced version of itself. This process will be repeated until one of those generations is advanced enough that it becomes sentient. That is the singularity event, and after it nothing will ever be the same.
The problem, of course, is that an artificial intelligence created by this method will be incomprehensible to humans, since it was actually programmed by progressively smarter generations of A.I. By the time those generations result in something capable of thinking for itself, its code will be so complex only another artificial intelligence will be able to understand it.
Think this sounds like science fiction? Think again. Countries around the world (including our own) are now looking at artificial intelligence as the new arms race. The nation with the most advanced A.I. as its ally will have the kind of advantage not seen since the dawn of the nuclear age.
In the 1940s, America was determined to develop the atom bomb, not because we were eager to decimate our enemies, but because the possibility of Imperial Japan or Nazi Germany developing the technology first would have been disastrous. That same kind of thinking will drive the race to create the first artificial superintelligence. Russian President Vladimir Putin made this statement in a speech to a group of students only last year: “Artificial intelligence is the future not only of Russia, but of all mankind … Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”
And it’s not as far off as you might think. Although an exact date (and even the idea of the singularity itself) is still hotly debated, most think — if it happens at all — it will occur within the next 50 years.
Ray Kurzweil, an inventor and futurist that Bill Gates calls “the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence,” pinpoints the date of the singularity even more precisely in his book, The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. He writes, “I set the date for the Singularity—representing a profound and disruptive transformation in human capability—as 2045.” Kurzweil thinks advancements in artificial intelligence will experience, in the coming decades, the same exponential progress that microchip technology has seen over the past half-century.
In conclusion, I’d like to leave you with a thought experiment that has been making the rounds on the internet. It’s called “Roko’s Basilisk” and is a futurist variation of Pascal’s Wager, in which we are asked to bet our lives on the existence of God. Pascal reasons that if God exists and we choose not to believe in Him, we risk eternal torment in the fires of Hell. On the other hand, if we believe in God and He does not exist, we have simply made ourselves a fool for believing in something that turns out to be only imaginary. Therefore, argues Pascal, one should believe in God since the risk of being a fool is preferable to the risk of burning forever in the depths of Hell.
In Roko’s Basilisk, belief or unbelief in God is replaced with support or opposition to the creation of a hypothetical future artificial superintelligence. In the future, this artificial superintelligence will come to rule over humanity and, like God, it will retroactively punish those people who opposed its creation and reward those that supported it. Which one will you be? Keep in mind that supporting it will increase the likelihood that such an A.I. will come to exist in the future and eventually rule the world, while opposing it will make its existence less likely – but if it does become a reality, you will surely be punished for opposing it. (As in Pascal’s Wager, neutrality is not an option.)
Yet, how can this superintelligent A.I. possibly know who supported or opposed it in the past before it existed? The answer to that question is not easy to get your head around, but once you do, it’s likely to blow your mind.
In order for the artificial superintelligence to know who to punish in the present, it would need to build a simulation of the past. This simulation will serve as a “predictive model” for the real world, and would be a perfect copy, down to every last detail, including little digital copies of you and me. The A.I. will base its real-world judgment of us on the actions of our digital counterparts in this simulation of the past. If the digital versions of you and I choose to oppose the A.I. in this simulated version of the past, the A.I. will use that as a predictor of our behavior in the real world and punish us accordingly.
Still with me? Because I’m about to take you further down the rabbit hole. For that simulation to be an accurate prediction of the real world, the digital people which populate it would need to think and act exactly as we do. And by necessity, they wouldn’t know they were only copies of us, or that they were living in a simulation. They would believe they were the real versions and would be unaware that the world in which they lived was only a digital facsimile of the real thing.
Okay, now I’m about to take a hard-right turn. Stick with me. Assuming all this is the case, how do we know which world we’re in – the simulated one or the real one? The answer is, we can’t. From the perspective of someone living inside the simulation, it would all look perfectly real, just the way it does right now. The people in that simulation would think they were living, breathing human beings, just as we do.
Therefore, we might simply be self-aware A.I. programs from the future living inside a simulation of the past, created by a malevolent artificial superintelligence – but we wouldn’t know that.
Does that possibility affect your decision to support or oppose the A.I.? After all, if we are the ones living in the simulation, then the A.I. already exists and opposing it will doom our counterparts in the real world. However, if this is not a simulation, your support will hasten the A.I.’s eventual creation and bring about the very scenario I am describing.
So, what do you choose? Oppose or support?
Some of you may be thinking, How can I be punished for something I didn’t know anything about?
Well, now you do. You’re welcome.
Eric W. Austin lives in China, Maine and writes about technical and community issues. He can be reached by email at ericwaustin@gmail.com.
China Post Office food drive a success
Pictured are, from left, food pantry director Ann Austin, and two food pantry volunteers. (Contributed photo)
The volunteers at the China Food Pantry express their appreciation for all those in the community who gave non-perishable food items during the annual Post Office Food Drive. The shelves are currently well-stocked thanks to the many residents who gave so generously.
RSU #18 2018 budget hearing scheduled
Messalonskee Middle School (photo source RSU 18 Messenger)
Regional School Union #18 district budget meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 29, at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria at Messalonskee Middle School, in Oakland.
Obituaries, Week of May 24, 2018
JOYCE M. YORK
WINSLOW – Joyce M. (Caswell) York, 81, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018, at Inland Hospital, in Waterville. She was born September 8, 1936, in Mercer, the daughter of Wallace and Beatrice (Rancourt) Caswell.
She was a co-founder of the Water-Oak Gem & Mineral Society, Inc., Waterville. She loved rock hunting around the state of Maine. Joyce will be remembered for her loving heart, personality, kindness and selflessness.
For the past 10 years she has lived with her niece, Carrie Collins, in Winslow.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, John Bragg and his partner Carlene; nieces and nephews, Lorrie York and Michele York Tharp, both of California, Gerald (Jerry) York, Gina York Knowles, Michael Bragg, Terry Bragg McPhearson and Cheryl Bragg Csengry, all of Maine, Michael York, Michael Bragg, Scott Bragg, Sandra Caswell Fisher, and Cathy Bragg Hawkins, all of Texas, Donna Delcore, of New Hampshire, Marcia Tanguay, Gloria Frawley, and Brenda Puzzo, all of Massachusetts, Tara Caswell Maxwell, of Kansas; many great-nieces and nephews.
She was the widow of Albert C. York. They shared 49 years of marriage together.
In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations in Joyce’s memory to Office of Development, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.
Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976.
BRANDY S. LILLY-BIZIER
WINSLOW – Brandy S. Lilly-Bizier, 37, passed away on Sunday, May 13, 2018. She was born October 8, 1980, the daughter of Mae (Truman) Mayo and James Lilly.
She attended schools in Gardiner, Whitefield, Windsor and Erskine Academy, in South China. She met her future husband while a freshman at Erskine, although she didn’t know it at the time. She graduated from Erskine Academy in 1999 and moved to Florida until her return to Maine in 2001. She held jobs as a waitress, store clerk, pharmacy tech, cashier, eventually caring for the elderly / healthcare.
She enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and living in the great outdoors.
She is survived by her husband Christopher Bizier; her parents, James Lilly and companion Kim Weeks, Rhonda Lilly, and Mae Mayo; grandparents Bill Lilly and companion Ernestine MacMillan; her in-laws, Al and Linda Getchell, and Tom and Hope Shorey; aunts and uncles Richard and Linda Truman, and Myra and Steve Carnival; many siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Condolences and photos may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.
Arrangements were under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Road, Windsor, ME.
Memorial donations may be made to The Resident’s Activity Fund, Gray BNirch, 37 Gray Bird Dr., Augusta, ME 04330 or The National MS Society of Maine, 74 Gray Rd., Falmouth, ME 04105 or any animal shelter of your choice.
ARLENE D. MEADER
Arlene Meader
OAKLAND – Arlene Davis Meader, 93, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. The daughter of Isaac and Arra Davis, she was born on November 22, 1924, in Solon.
She grew up on a farm with five siblings. In 1941, Arlene graduated with honors from Solon High School, where she was active in sports, drama and public speaking. At a box social, she met Everett Meader. She graduated from Skowhegan Business School and then served as a secretary at W.H. Hinman, Inc.
In 1944, Arlene married Everett, and together they managed the Meader farm. She and Everett led the Youth Group at the Solon Methodist Church, served as co-presidents of the Couples Club, and participated in the Solon Grange. Before leaving Solon, she became the town clerk and treasurer.
In 1965, the family moved to Oakland, where she and Everett became active in the Messalonskee All-Sports Boosters. They were members of the Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, where she was in charge of the nursery for many years. This is where she became known as “Grammie Meader” to many children. Her greatest enjoyments were watching her sons and grandchildren play sports and attending family gatherings.
After surviving a massive heart attack in 2005, she became known as the “Miracle Woman.” Her loved ones were blessed with 13 additional years with her. During this time, she shared her love and extended her legacy with seven more great-grandchildren.
Arlene was predeceased by her husband, Everett, of 66 years; brothers, Harrison and Richard Davis; and twin-sister, Pauline Davis.
She is survived by her sons: Dick and wife, Betty-Jane, of Waterville, Bob and wife, Pam, of Portland, Bruce and husband, Joe DiLorenzo, of Saco, and Don and wife, Melissa, of Oakland; grandchildren: Lance and wife, Amy; Daren and fiancée, Jennifer Banks; Lindsay and husband, Brian Ross; Derek and wife, Kara; Suzanne and husband, Aaron Berthiaume; Justin and partner, Katrina Seeley, and Trevor and partner, Adam Courcy; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Alice Heald and Beverly Shaughnessy; brother, Isaac Davis Jr.; family friend, Jim Tolman; and relatives, Norma Gorham and Frances Savage.
An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at: www.lawrybrothers.com.
Memorial donations may be made to:The Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, 20 West School Street, Oakland, ME 04963.
MERLE N. QUIMBY
ALBION – Merle N. Quimby, 97, formerly of Albion, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Oak Grove Nursing Home, in Waterville. She was born in Unity on September 28, 1920, the daughter of Eugene and Doris (Davis) Nichols.
She graduated from Freedom Academy, class of 1939. Merle married Lawrence Quimby on July 6, 1940 and celebrated 64 years together.
Merle was always an active woma. She helped on the family farm much preferring to be driving a tractor in the hay field than staying in the house. Along with clerking in local stores, Merle was also a rural route mail carrier for a number of years. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, making porcelain dolls and basket weaving.
Merle was predeceased by her parents, husband, sister and great-grandson.
She is survived by sons Carroll Quimby and wife Charlene, Reginald Quimby and wife Diane, all of Albion; daughter Nancy Crosbyt and husband Peter, of Augusta; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.lawrybrothers.com.
JAMES B. VANDERVEER
WINSLOW – James “Jim” VanDerveer, 76, passed away following a hard fought and courageous battle with cancer and other medical complications at MaineGeneral Medical Center on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. He was born September 12, 1941, in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of James Joseph VanDerveer and Alberta Linscott VanDerveer.
Jim graduated from Maine Central Institute in 1959 and from there went to serve in the United States Marine Corps from 1959-1962. He later attended classes at Thomas Collage, in Waterville.
On September 7, 1968, he married the former Nancy Fortin. Together they made their home in Winslow with their two children Scott and Holly. Jim worked for Smiley’s Dairy for several years and then Oakhurst Dairy for 30 years. After his retirement he worked part-time for Fortin’s Home Furnishings, in Winslow, in the maintenance department.
Jim loved art classes with Sister Yvonne and had wonderful memories of being a member of the Indian Guides with his son Scott. He was an avid Red Sox fan and made several bus trips with Scott to see games at various ball parks. More than likely if you visited him at home he would be watching CNN.
Jim was a quiet, gentle and devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Jim was predeceased by his parents; and grandparents Elna and Bill Clark.
Jim is survived by his wife Nancy, of Winslow; his son Scott, of Winslow; his daughter Holly Anderson and husband James, of Winslow; four granddaughters, Rachel, of Waterville, Lauren, Tori and Kara, of Winslow; great-granddaughter Elainna Linnell, of Waterville; his brother, Carl VanDerveer, of Kingsland, Georgia; his sister Joan Gould, of Littleton, New Hampshire; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Jim’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.
Please consider making a donation in Jim’s name to: Spectrum Generations, Muskie Center, 39 Gold Street, Waterville ME 04901.
DIAN DUQUETTE
WINDSOR––Dian (Tremblay) Duquette, 71, of Windsor, passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. She was born in Waterville to Henry and Ileen (Brooks) Tremblay.
She was raised in Windsor, and graduated from Erskine Academy. She attended classes at UMA.
Dian left Windsor for several years, only to return to be with her partner, Carlton Evans Jr. They were together for more than 30 years.
Dian loved to cook. Her lasagna was always a big hit at family gatherings. She enjoyed sewing and making outfits when her children were young.
She was content with life, not wanting for material things.
She was predeceased by her parents; and brothers, John and Michael Tremblay.
She survived by her partner, Carlton Evans Jr.; daughter, Dawnn Hannan and partner, Peter Morse, of Manchester; her son, Dana Duquette, of Delaware; granddaughter Daysha Hannan, of Winthrop, her brother, Donald Tremblay, of Saco; her sisters, Debora Loman, of Augusta, and Janet Thompson and husband, Rick, of Mount Vernon; and many nieces and nephews.
OTHERS DEPARTED
RUTH E. COMEAU, 71, of Litchfield, passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, following a long struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Locally, she is survived by two brothers, China Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux and wife June, and William L’Heureux and wife Wanda, all of Waterville.
BEVERLY C. SCATES PARKER, 83, of Liberty, passed away on Saturday, May 12, 2018. Locally, she is survived by children Twila Damon and husband Crosby, of Windsor, Elizabeth Campbell and husband John, of Chelsea, and Great Parker and wife Jerrie, of Albion; and sister Carolyn Haskell and husband Eugene, of Fort Myers, Florida, formerly of South China.
HERBERT A. HASKELL, 87, of Warren, passed away on Saturday, May12, 2018, at his home. Locally, he surrived by two sisters, Floria J. Datsis and husband John, and Thelma Martin, all of Winslow.
AREA NOTABLE
HAROLD JOSEPH, 95, of Fairfield, died on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at Maine Medical Center, Portland. His father, Abraham Joseph founded Joseph’s Clothing and Sporting Goods, in Fairfield in 1922. He was a graduate of Lawrence High School , in Fairfield, and Colby College, in Waterville, a member of the first class to graduate on Mayflower Hill. He had a founding role in the Fairfield Police Athletic League. He and his wife Naj, and daughter and son-in-law Paula and Jon Eustis, ran Joseph’s Clothing and Sporting Goods, in Fairfield, for over 70 years.
Dubois, Grass and Veilleux on Dean College dean’s list
Dean College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, has named the students that have earned a place on the dean’s list for the Fall 2017 semester.
Cami Dubois, of Winslow; Madison Grass, of Vassalboro; and Joshua Veilleux, of Winslow.