Five staff members cited at Vassalboro school

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Vassalboro School Principal Dianna Gram, third from right, is flanked by, from left to right, Senora Soifer, Meg Swanson, Megan Allen, Stephanie Roy and Robin Corey. All were presented with certificates from the principal. (Contributed photo)

Corey, Roy, Swanson, Allen and Soifer honored at Portland Seadogs game

Recently, at Vassalboro Community School, principal Dianna Gram recognized five staff members for their contributions to VCS. This recognition comes from the Portland Seadogs baseball team. Each of these staff members has made a difference here at VCS. The staff members are:

Robin Corey for being a role model and leader. Her work on behalf of students with disabilities has made a huge difference! She has also provided much support to the members of the Special Education team. “You are also helpful and kind to the core!” said Gram.

Stephanie Roy for her hard work to become the teacher she is today. Ms. Roy started at VCS as an Ed Tech and has worked in many grade levels. She has worked more than one job at a time putting herself through college to become a teacher. “VCS thanks you and is proud of all you have accomplished,” said Gram.

Meg Swanson has been a great addition to VCS. She has helped teachers and students in many areas. Her focus on mindfulness and kindness has made the school better. She was thanked for helping the students to learn and grow.

Megan Allen is recognized for her leadership and hard work on curriculum. She has also received her doctorate and will be the next principal, following Gram’s retirement in June. VCS is very fortunate to have you on the team.

Finally, recognition goes to Senora Deb Soifer for her work at VCS teaching Spanish. She has brought culture and language learning to many students over the years. Gram stated, “She is retiring this year and we thank her for her work on behalf of kids. Because of her influence students have not only learned a language but have been exposed to another culture. VCS salutes you.”

These staff members were honored at the Portland Seadogs game along with other teachers throughout the state of Maine. Gramm concluded by saying, “Congratulations Mrs. Corey, Ms. Roy, Ms. Swanson, Dr. Allen and Senora Soifer…and know we are all proud of you!”

Town Line Survey Archives

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Survey Archives (doesn’t include votes cast on Facebook)

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FOR YOUR HEALTH: Know your risk of heart disease

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(NAPSI)—For a growing number of American women, knowing their numbers may just save their life.

The Risk

The problem is heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, it kills one woman about every 80 seconds.

The Awareness Paradox

While a new national poll, conducted by Morning Consult for CVS Health, found that women are aware of the risks of heart disease, most don’t know their numbers for factors that could increase their own risk, such as cholesterol, blood sugar, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference.

The survey also found that more than one in three women have heart-related conditions such as high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and history of stroke or a heart defect.

Despite the fact that over a third report having a heart condition themselves, and more than two in five have a family history of heart conditions, just 18 percent of women overall say heart health is the most pressing health issue in the U.S. today.

Doctors’ Advice

“This data reinforces what we’ve known for some time — there is still a great need for more awareness and, particularly, action when it comes to prevention of heart disease in women,” said Suzanne Steinbaum, D.O., a preventive cardiologist from New York and a national Go Red For Women volunteer. “Some risk factors, like age, gender and family history, are, unfortunately, out of women’s control, but others — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI—can be treated or managed. Now is the time for women to take control of their health, and knowing their numbers is a great place to start.”

“These survey results offer significant insights into how women across the country perceive heart disease prevalence and the importance of proactive care,” added Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health, which commissioned the study. “Together with the American Heart Association, we encourage more women to talk with their health care provider or pharmacist about their risks for heart disease and how to take actions now that will minimize future risk.”

CVS Health is a national sponsor of Go Red For Women, the American Heart Association’s movement that advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. As part of its support, CVS Health funds cardiovascular research and provides heart-healthy screenings at MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health.

Connecting Women To Heart Health Resources And Care Providers across the health care continuum can help individuals
access the information, preventive screenings, and condition management support they need to improve heart health outcomes. Most women agree that pharmacists and nurse practitioners are both valuable yet underutilized resources for managing heart health.

For example, only half of the 26 percent of women who report concerns about their heart health medication consult
their pharmacists, though nearly all of those who do report their pharmacists are helpful.

What You Can Do

By living a healthy lifestyle, you can lower your risk for heart disease. Such a lifestyle, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, includes:

  • Eating a healthy diet—low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fiber.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight—your BMI should be between 18.5 and 25.
  • Getting enough physical activity-2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate exercise a week.
  • Not smoking—or using other forms of tobacco.
  • Limiting alcohol use—no more than two drinks a day for men, one for women, on average.

Learn More

You can find further information about heart health at www.cvshealth.com/gored.

Week of April 26, 2018

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Week of April 26, 2018

Celebrating 30 years of local news

How local officials are making our schools safe again

“Nothing’s foolproof,” Augusta Deputy Chief Jared Mills told me at the beginning of our meeting on the issue of school safety. “The best laid plans are not going to prevent this from happening.”

What is ‘this’? Take your pick. Terrorists and school shooters. Bomb threats and bullying. Our students and teachers have a lot to deal with these days […]

Your Local News

China selectmen approve MJEK liquor license; adds a police officer for day work

CHINA —  The April 18 China selectmen’s meeting was preceded by a public hearing on a liquor license application for MJEK, Michael Marois’ seafood restaurant on Lakeview Drive … Also, selectmen added another China police officer, appointing former Clinton Police Chief Craig Johnson, who will be able to patrol during the day and work on special details when needed […]

Vassalboro selectmen work to finalize warrant for town meeting

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen have moved their first meeting in May from the usual Thursday evening to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in the town office meeting room … However, selectmen ended their April 19 meeting and the budget committee meeting that followed with nothing resembling a finished warrant. There were three problems […]

Agenda for China TIF committee meeting

CHINA —  The China Tax Increment Finance Committee will hold its regular meeting on Monday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m., in the China Town Office. The public information session will be a review of progress on the following current initiatives […]

Retired educators to hold meeting

AUGUSTA — Hundreds of retired educators and guests are expected to attend MEA-Retired’s 66th annual meeting and convention at the Augusta Civic Center on Thursday, May 3, where Bill Green, of Portland, will be keynote speaker […]

BBBS registering teams for Bowl for Kids’ Sake

KENNEBEC VALLEY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine invites local businesses, organizations and individuals to sign up to Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2018, presented by Hannaford Supermarkets, Camden National Bank and United Insurance. Local bowling events in Kennebec Valley will be held May 2 – 10 in Augusta, Hallowell and Skowhegan […]

Dr. Barnhart speaks at ACB Library

CHINA — On April 22, the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, hosted Dr. Louisa Barnhart who spoke to a full room of participants and showed pictures and videos of her three month trip to Southeast Asia with her husband, Michael Klein. Their travels included Bhutan, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam […]

Spring book sales at the Kennebec Historical Society

AUGUSTA — Hallowell bookseller John Merrill is downsizing and moving to 110 Water Street in Hallowell. He has generously donated books to the Kennebec Historical Society’s annual Spring Book Sale. However, as the donation filled more than 65 boxes, there will be three sales in the garage at the Society headquarters […]

Ice out … boats in!

CHINA — It’s official! Ice is finally out on China Lake, following what seemed an endless winter. The Town Line’s judge ruled ice went out on the lake on Monday, April 23, 2018. With her dead-on correct guess of April 23, Maggie Hanigan, of North Vassalboro, is the winner of the 2018 ice out contest […]

-Advertisement-

TOWN OF CHINA
Town Manager

The Town of China, Maine, is currently searching for qualified candidates for the position of Town Manager. China is located near the state capital on beautiful China Lake. China has a population of 4,328. China operates under a town meeting, select board and town manager form of government. The select board is seeking candidates with management experience and demonstrated proactive leadership abilities while working in the best interest of the Town of China.

Skills in financial management and budgeting with an open, collaborative and transparent management style and excellent communication skills are desired. Salary is based on experience and training. Benefits offered include health and dental insurance, holiday, sick, vacation and personal time and retirement plan.

Please send resume and cover letter with salary requirements to:

Town Manager Search    
TOWN OF CHINA    
571 Lakeview Drive    
China, ME 04358    

* Deadline for submission is April 30, 2018 *

School News

Winslow girls receive legislative sentiment

WINSLOW — The Winslow High School’s girls basketball team visited the State House, in Augusta, on April 13, to be cited by the Legislature with a legislative sentiment recognizing their Class B state championship victory […]

Local students compete at robotics tournament

CENTRAL ME — Students from SAD #49 , in Fairfield, and RSU #18, from Messalonskee High School, in Oakland, participated with many students from all over New England in designs programs motivating more than 450,000 young students from in 88 countries to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math skills […]

Letters to the Editor

from BOB BENNETT — The variety of garbage was incredible. We got broken bottles (almost exclusively Bud Light), crushed cans, cardboard, cigarette packs, plastic bags, styrofoam packing “peanuts” and food containers, milk jugs, “nip” bottles and interestingly, an exposed roll of 35 mm film; I wonder how long that had been there? […]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MADISON –  The Madison Farmers Market will open for the season on Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Main St. Park, rain or shine. The market will run from May 12 through October 20. To raise additional funds for the market, they will be holding a talent show on Sun., May 27, from 5 – 8 p.m., at the East Madison Grange […]

Obituaries – week of April 26, 2018

PALERMO – Charles R. Merrithew, 93 of Palermo, passed away on Saturday April 7, 2018. He was born in 1924, the son of Willie and Mary Merrithew of Palermo… and remembering 5 others…

SCHEDULE OF LOCAL TOWN MEETINGS FOR 2018 <– click here!

Check this page to find out when your town meeting is. We’ll be updating this page as more meetings are scheduled. If you don’t see your town listed, send us an email at townline@fairpoint.net or visit our contact page!

Take our weekly survey!
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Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Porcupines. Nuisance, or ecological necessity? It all depends with whom you talk. I know some people who are overrun by the animals to the point where they are raiding the gardens, and having to deal with their dogs being injured by porcupine quills due mostly to their own curiosity. While others find a use for them […]

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates |  Like her compatriot, the great tenor Nicolai Gedda (1925-2017), Swedish-born soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom sang in several languages, and possessed one of the most beautiful, disciplined voices to be found anywhere […]

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | My apologies that the bottle drive that was held last weekend at the Solon Fire Station was submitted too late for publihsing. I have to receive news by Sunday to get it in on Thursdays paper. I thank Aryke Coombs, very much. This is the second time I have received news from her, and I can’t begin to state how much that means to me […]

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | This is a test for us ‘old kids’! The answers will be printed next week, just in case you need them […]

FOR YOUR HEALTH

For a growing number of American women, knowing their numbers may just save their life. The problem is heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, it kills one woman about every 80 seconds […]

Know your risk of heart disease

Roland’s Trivia Question for the Week of April 26, 2018

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Question

Who is the only player in New York Yankees history to achieve over 3,000 hits in his career?

Answer

Derek Jeter (3,465)

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Porcupines among us; are they a nuisance or necessary?

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Porcupines. Nuisance, or ecological necessity?

It all depends with whom you talk. I know some people who are overrun by the animals to the point where they are raiding the gardens, and having to deal with their dogs being injured by porcupine quills due mostly to their own curiosity. While others find a use for them.

Simply put, porcupines are rodents. That puts them in the same class, and are actually related, with raccoons, rats and beavers. They are indigenous to the Americas, Southern Asia, Europe and Africa. They are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and beaver. They can grow in size to be 25 – 36 inches long with an 8 to 10-inch tail, and weigh from 12 – 35 pounds.

The common porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is an herbivore, so look out gardens. It eats leaves, herbs, twigs and green plants. They may eat bark in the winter, evidence of which I have seen in many places. The North American porcupine often climbs trees to find food. Like the raccoon, they are mostly nocturnal, but will sometimes forage for food in the day.

Because of the scarcity of predators, porcupines are plentiful and are not endangered.

The name porcupine comes from Middle French porc espin (spined pig). A regional American name for the animal is quill pig.

The porcupines’ quills, or spines, take on various forms, depending on the species, but all are modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin, and they are embedded in the skin.

Quills are released by contact with them, or they may drop out when the porcupine shakes its body. The porcupine does not throw quills, but the flailing muscular tail and powerful body may help impel quills deeply into attackers. The quills’ barbed ends expand with moisture and continue to work deeper into flesh. Porcupine quills have mildly antibiotic properties and thus are not infectious. Quills, however, may cause death in animals if they puncture a vital organ or if a muzzle full of quills leads to starvation.

Once embedded, the hollow quills swell, burn and work their way into the flesh every time a victim’s muscles contract, digging a millimeter deeper each hour. Eventually, they emerge through the skin again, some distance from the entry point though sometimes they spear right through the body.

I have had first hand knowledge of how painful a porcupine quill can be. Many years ago, my children had chores to do after they got home from school. One of them was to make sure they picked up after themselves following their after-school snack. Upon returning home from work, I found a folded paper towel on the counter. I grabbed it to crush it into a ball to throw away when this sharp pain shot through my hand. When I unwrapped the towel, I found a porcupine quill inside, but now imbedded in my hand. It turned out my daughter had brought it home from school to show it to me. She obtained the quill from a “show and tell” session at school.

Because they have few effective predators, porcupines are relatively long-lived. The average life span of the porcupine is 7 – 8 years, however, they have lived up to 15 years in the wild, and 18 years in captivity. A predator needs to learn only once to leave a porcupine alone. Bobcats, great-horned owls, mountain lions, coyotes and wolves, when extremely hungry and unable to catch anything else, may give it a try anyway. The fisher, however, is a skilled porcupine killer. It uses its speed and agility to snake around a porcupine’s rear guard defense and viciously bite its face until it dies.

porcupine quill bracelet

At one time, however, especially when game was scarce, the porcupine was hunted for its meat and considered a delicacy. A practice that continues in Kenya today. Because they are slow, and can remain in the same tree for days at a time, they are about the only animal that can be killed simply with a large rock. Native people of the North Woods also wove elaborate dyed quillwork decorations into clothing, moccasins, belts, mats, necklaces, bracelets and bags. Because the work was so time-consuming and highly valued, quill embroderies were used as a medium of exchange before the coming of Europeans.

When not in trees or feeding, porcupines prefer the protection of a den, which can be found in rock crevices, caves, hollow logs, abandoned mines and even under houses and barns.

Porcupines are highly attracted to salt. They may chew on any tool handle that has salt left from human sweat. They have even been known to chew on outhouse toilet seats. Road rock salt is very tempting to them, and puddles of water from the snow-melt in the spring are especially luring and could account for their high road-kill mortality rate. They have even been seen gnawing on automobile tires that have been exposed to rock salt.

In Maine, porcupines join a short list of other animals that are open to hunting all year, including coyotes, woodchucks and red squirrels.

So, are porcupines a nuisance, or do they have a role in the grand scheme of things, ecologically?

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who is the only player in New York Yankees history to achieve over 3,000 hits in his career?

Answer can be found here.

Legal Notices, Week of April 26, 2018

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STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
COURT ST.,
SKOWHEGAN, ME
SOMERSET, ss
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
18-A MRSA sec. 3-801

The following Personal Representatives have been appointed in the estates noted. The first publication date of this notice April 19, 2018.

If you are a creditor of an estate listed below, you must present your claim within four months of the first publication date of this Notice to Creditors by filing a written statement of your claim on a proper form with the Register of Probate of this Court or by delivering or mailing to the Personal Representative listed below at the address published by his name, a written statement of the claim indicating the basis therefore, the name and address of the claimant and the amount claimed or in such other manner as the law may provide. See 18-A MRSA 3-804.

2018-077 – Estate of CLARENCE H. JONES, late of Bingham, Me deceased. Steven P. Jones, 20 Goodrich Road, Bingham, Me 04920 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-037 – Estate of JENNIE M. BERNARD, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Joseph J. Ciccarelli, 25 Willow Street, Norridgewock, Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-079 – Estate of RONALD E. HOSMER I, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Lee A. York, 39 Lambert Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-080 – Estate of CLAUDE C. DUNTON, late of Embden, Me deceased. Deana R. Dunton, 630 New Portland Road, Embden, Me 04958 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-081 – Estate of SANDRA J. HIGHT, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Walter H. Hight II, 22 Dyer Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-083 – Estate of DAVID L. GRUHN, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Frank N. Gruhn, 16 Hornhill Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-084 – Estate of CHARLES A. BOWERS, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Evelyn A. Bowers, PO Box 92, Hartland, Me 04943 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-087 – Estate of EVELYN MAY BOLDUC, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Cheryl A. Champagne, P.O. Box 296, Fairfield, ME 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-090 – Estate of EUGENE R. CHARBONNEAU, late of Athens, Me deceased. Earl R. Bootier, 988 9th Street, Arcata, CA 95521 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-091 – Estate of BELINDA C. COOTS, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Terrie Patterson, 2900 Turnberry Drive, Findlay, OH 45840 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-095 – Estate of JAMES MCLAUGHLIN, JR., late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Taylah McLaughlin, 20 Buttons Road, Detroit, Maine 04929 and Jessica McLaughlin, 38 Prospect Street, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-096 – Estate of ALLEN A. RISINGER, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Paula S. Risinger, 465 Norridgewock Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-098 – Estate of LLOYD J. BEAULIEU, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Edith Enman, 200 Ohio Hill Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-099 – Estate of CONSTANCE ELANINE KING, late of Madison, Me deceased. Andrea Erskine, 711 SW 3rd Terr, Williston, FL 32696 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-100 – Estate GENEVE A. FALL, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Virginia Howard, 78 Coburn Avenue, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-088 – Estate of S. KIRBY HIGHT, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Louis J. Hight, PO Box 387, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-104 – Estate of MARIE C. LANCASTER-HALE, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Ryan P. Cook, 118 River Road, Benton, Maine 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-105 – Estate of DARRELL D. BUTLER, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Esther L. Butler, 41 Denbow Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-108 – Estate of ROLAND P. ALLAIN, JR., late of Madison, Me deceased. Amy Glidden, 46 Pond Road, St. Albans, Maine 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-109 – Estate of SHIRLEY POLLIS, late of Anson, Me deceased. Alan S. Pollis, 5 Pineland Circle, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-111 – Estate of LORRAINE P. HAYDEN, late of Starks, Me deceased. Brenda Hobbs, PO Box 151, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-112 – Estate of DALE R. GORDON, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Brenda Lawrence, 160 Ross Hill Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-113 – Estate of ERNESTINE R. WILLIAMS, late of Embden, Me deceased. Laura Hauser, 6 Little River Road, Old Orchard Beach, Me 04064 and Jean Young, 38 Dunstan Landing Road, Scarborough, Me 04074 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-114 – Estate of W. REID PEPIN, JR., late of Burlington, Vermont, deceased. Craig K. Pepin, 15 DeForest Heights, Burlington, VT 05401 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-115 – Estate of FRANCES H. SMITH, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Roger Smith, 250 Sandy River Road, Norridgewock, Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on April 19 & 26, 2018.
Dated: April 16, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(4/26)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
41 COURT ST.
SOMERSET, ss
SKOWHEGAN, ME
PROBATE NOTICES

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ESTATES LISTED BELOW

Notice is hereby given by the respective petitioners that they have filed petitions for appointment of personal representatives in the following estates. These matters will be heard at 10 a.m. or as soon thereafter as they may be, on May 2, 2018. The requested appointments may be made on or after the hearing date if no sufficient objection be heard. This notice complies with the requirements of 18-A MRSA §3-403 and Probate Rule 4.

2018-086 – Estate of NOAH WILLIAM SERAFINO, Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Leah Serafino and Brian Morin, 129 Embden Pond Road, North Anson, Me 04958 requesting minor’s name be changed to Noah William Morin for reasons set forth therein.

2018-106 – Estate of NATHAN ROSS BOYLE, Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Danielle Snyder, 10 Forrest Haven Drive, Jackman, Me 04945 request minor’s name be changed to Nathan Ross Snyder for reasons set forth therein.

2018-107 – Estate of NAKIA ROSE BOYLE, Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Danielle Snyder, 10 Forrest Haven Drive, Jackman, Me 04945 request minor’s name be changed to Nakia Rose Snyder for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: April 16, 2018
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(4/26)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
SOMERSET, SS
NOTICE TO HEIRS
Estate of
LORRAINE P. HAYDEN
DOCKET NO. 2018-111

It appearing that the following heirs and devisee of LORRAINE P. HAYDEN, as listed in an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative is of unknown address as listed below:

Katherine Casey, Patricia Warman and Mark Henry, all of address unknown

THEREFORE, notice is hereby given as heir of the above named estate, pursuant to Maine Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 4(d) (1) (a), and Rule 4 (e) a.

This notice shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in The Town Line, with the first publication date to be April 19, 2018.
Names and address of Personal Representative: Brenda Hobbs, PO Box 151, Madison, Me 04950.

Dated: April 16, 2018
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(4/26)

I’m Just Curious: A test for old kids

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by Debbie Walker

This is a test for us ‘old kids’! The answers will be printed next week, just in case you need them.

01. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, Who was that masked man? Invariably, someone would answer, I don’t know, but he left this behind. What did he leave behind?________________.

02. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. In early 1964, we all watched them on The _______________ Show.

03 ‘Get your kicks, __________________.’

04. ‘The story you are about to see is true.. The names have been changed to ___________________.’

05. ‘In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ________________.’

06. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we ‘danced’ under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the ‘_____________.’

07. ‘N_E_S_T_L_E_S’, Nestle’s makes the very best . . . . _______________.’

08. Satchmo was America ‘s Ambassador of Goodwill.’ Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was _________________.

09. What takes a ‘licking and keeps on ticking’? _______________.

10. Red Skelton’s hobo character was named _________________ and Red always ended his television show by saying, ‘Good Night, and ‘________ ________. ‘

11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their______________.

12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called the VW. What other names did it go by? ____________ &_______________.

13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, ‘the day the music died. ‘This was a tribute to ___________________.

14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit.. The Russians did it. It was called ___________________.

15. One of the big fads of the late 50’s and 60’s was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist. It was called the __ ______________.

Answers next week! The only time I really enjoy these little tests is when I get to pass them along! Then it’s really fun. Hopefully this will bring some fun memories to your mind. It made me smile.

Different uses for regular things make me smile too:

I’m just curious when you will use this: I don’t like to redo something that isn’t necessary so: Take a clothes hanger and two rubber bands. On each end of the hanger attach a rubber band. I would use a band that is long enough to wind over the hanger two or three times. Your clothes will now stay on the hanger and it was a cheap fix. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Music of Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel, and more…

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Music

of Richard Strauss (1864-1949), Maurice Ravel (1874-1937), and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791); Elisabeth Soderstrom (1927-2009), soprano, with various conductors and orchestras; BBC Legends ­– BBCL 4153-2, CD, from 1960, 1971 and 1976 broadcast concerts.

Nicolai Gedda

Like her compatriot, the great tenor Nicolai Gedda (1925-2017), Swedish-born soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom sang in several languages, and possessed one of the most beautiful, disciplined voices to be found anywhere.

The above CD contains three live broadcast performances from the BBC – Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs with the Royal Philharmonic conducted by the late, phenomenally great Antal Dorati (1906-1988), from October 3, 1976; Ravel’s Sheherazade with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Pierre Boulez (1925-2016), from August 3, 1971; and two arias from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic under Sir John Pritchard (1921-1989), from August 20, 1960.

Richard Strauss wrote his final work, the Four Last Songs, in 1948, one that has generated a number of very good recordings. The words are pre-occupied with the confrontation with, and acceptance of, one’s mortality. After a lifetime of composing some of the most exciting music that display the full expressive and technical range of the modern orchestra – including the crazy, brilliant tone poems, Don Juan, Also Sprach Zarathustra, Death and Transfiguration, A Hero’s Life, etc., and the awesomely violent operas, Salome (with its Dance of the Seven Veils and Final Scene, in which the deranged Salome sings of her love for John the Baptist to his head on a platter) and Elektra – as well as a batch of rather dull pieces, Strauss presented music of the deepest, most eloquent serenity. Soderstrom and Dorati did a very satisfying performance that holds its own with other singers and conductors.

The composer was married for more than 50 years to his wife, Pauline; he once described her as ” very complex, perverse, coquettish, at every minute different from how she had been a moment before,” and often screaming at him, “Richard, we are low on cash – go write something!,” even though they were quite wealthy! But he reportedly considered their marriage a very happy one.

The Ravel Sheherazade and the Mozart Figaro arias are also given exemplary performances, consistent with Soderstrom’s unusually gifted reputation for adapting her beautiful voice to the exacting style and sound of different composers. For lovers of true vocal art, this cd is especially recommended!

Hymns Triumphant
Volume 2

arranged and conducted by Lee Holdridge; Birdwing BWC 2058, cassette, recorded 1984.

Lee Holdridge

The very talented composer, conductor and arranger, Lee Holdridge (1944-), has assembled and ar­rang­ed approximately 30 hymns and conducts the Amen Choir of the Van Nuys, Cali­fornia, First Baptist Church and England’s National Philharmonic Orchestra in performances that lack the sentimentality of previous similar glee clubby albums. Holdridge has arranged for numerous singers, the most prominent being Neil Diamond, while both men collaborated on the soundtrack for Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He has also composed a fine Violin Concerto and music for various films and TV shows, which are listed in his wiki biography.

Spring book sales at the Kennebec Historical Society

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Hallowell bookseller John Merrill is downsizing and moving to 110 Water Street in Hallowell. He has generously donated books to the Kennebec Historical Society’s annual Spring Book Sale. However, as the donation filled more than 65 boxes, there will be three sales in the garage at the Society headquarters, 107 Winthrop Street, Augusta: May 19, May 26, and June 2. The sales will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be more than 1,000 hardback and paperback books at each sale. Subjects include fiction, biography, history, travel, business, china and porcelain, children’s books, and many more. The hardbacks and trade paperbacks will sell for $1 and regular paperbacks for 50 cents. Starting at 1 p.m., all books will be reduced to $1 a bag. For more information, call 622-7718.