LONG ROAD TO WINTER: Eric Austin, of China, captured this shot of the changing leaves last fall.
SNOWY OWL: Karen Willette, of China, photographed this Snowy Owl on the roof of her home recently.
ELUSIVE BUG: Jayne Winters, of South China, snapped this cicadae last summer.
Notice:
Due to staff illness, this week’s issue of The Town Line is of minimal size. We apologize for any news articles that may have been inadvertently omitted. We anticipate a return to normal next week.
PALERMO — This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Pierce, (Dresden) proposes giving control of the dam on Sheepscot Pond to the Dept. of Marine Resources after decades of successful management by the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The Sheepscot Lake Association and the Town of Palermo oppose LD922’s proposal mandating action to open the dam without regard to possible consequences. Returning these migratory fishes presents several risks which must be taken seriously […]
CHINA — China selectmen have scheduled a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, to continue work on the warrant for the March 24 town business meeting. At their Jan. 22 meeting, board members spent almost two hours going over the draft warrant Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux prepared. Major items they did not discuss, or did not decide on, include […]
CHINA — China Planning Board members have decided to start carrying out their responsibility to prepare a revised town comprehensive plan before the current one expires in the summer of 2020. The three members at the Jan. 16 meeting directed Chairman Tom Miragliuolo to ask selectmen to appoint a new comprehensive plan committee and to try to get a request for funds on the warrant for the March 24 town business meeting […]
BENTON — Graicen Giroux, 7, from Benton, got his first pin in wrestling this weekend at the Mid-Coast Youth Wrestling Club Youth Opener, the first tournament for the season. Graicen wrestles for Skowhegan youth wrestling […]
CHINA — The Town Line newspaper, a nonprofit committed to serving area communities, has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of February […]
Remembering Fall, an elusive bug, and a snowy owl. The best pictures of the week from our readers!
EAST VASSALBORO – Herbert Louis Cates, 94, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018, following a month of serious illness. He was born on September 2, 1923, at the East Vassalboro Family Homestead, the seventh of 12 children of Benjamin Harold Sr. and Anabel Ingraham Cates…. and 4 others…
SCORES & OUTDOORSby Roland D. Hallee | This week, I’m going to print an article that was sent to me by Glenn W. Martin, of Montville, regarding the tick-born disease epidemic. It is an interesting article and worthy to be passed on to our readers […]
REVIEW POTPOURRIby Peter Cates | Joan Morris and her husband, William Bolcom, have been serving up records and concerts for over 45 years since the early seventies, their specialty being popular songs and composers from the Civil War to the ‘50s Lieber and Stoller. One album spotlighted Henry Clay Work, who wrote My Grandfather’s Clock […]
SOLON & BEYONDby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | The Solon Budget Committee meeting was held at the Municipal building on Saturday, January 20 … A meeting of the Coolidge Library Trustees meeting was held at the library on January 18 […]
by Debbie Walker | I made a long put-off trip to the dermatologist to have a little mole thing on my forehead looked at. They told me just by looking at it that it was a basil cell carcinoma, lot of words for cancer. Instantly, that thing reminded me of being in Maine, come in from the woods with a tick on you and all you want to do is get it off you! And anyone else in the room starts checking for any ticks on themselves. Well my immediate reaction was: GET THAT THING OF ME, NOW! This little mole thing was now my “tick” and I wanted it gone, now! […]
For Your Health
Graicen Giroux, 7, from Benton, got his first pin in wrestling this weekend at the Mid-Coast Youth Wrestling Club Youth Opener, the first tournament for the season. Graicen wrestles for Skowhegan youth wrestling.
Contributed photo
(NAPSI) — The New Year is a wonderful time to not only evaluate your past, but also explore your goals for the year ahead. While it is common that health and fitness resolutions land at the top of people’s list, the truth is that achieving any goal in 2018 is dependent upon good health. Whether planning that bucket list vacation, trying a new hobby or spending more time outdoors, a healthy fitness routine is the backbone of making these goals achievable.
This year, create an attainable health and fitness goal to help you reach all your resolutions. SilverSneakers, the nation’s leading fitness community for older adults, offers the following tips on how to make resolutions that will help you live life well in 2018:
For more than 25 years, SilverSneakers has been helping older adults enjoy and get the most out of life by engaging participants in physical activity, as well as fostering new friendships with a welcoming member community. Through exercise, SilverSneakers helps people maximize their health and well-being, and maintain their active lifestyle in retirement.
To find out if you are eligible or to find a class in your area, visit www.SilverSneakers.com.
Of the New England Patriots’ five Super Bowl wins, Tom Brady has been MVP ofur times. Who was the fifth?
Answer: Deion Branch, in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Deer Tick. (photo by Jared Belson)
by Roland D. HalleeThis week, I’m going to print an article that was sent to me by Glenn W. Martin, regarding the tick-born disease epidemic. It is an interesting article and worthy to be passed on to our readers.
Glenn W. Martin, a resident of Montville, is a master Maine Guide and farmer, and his hypothesis on the cause of the tick/tick-borne disease problem is worth a read.
Maine’s extremely large and growing tick population is to blame for human contracted tick-borne diseases such as the Lyme epidemic. This was the result of an increase in tick hatching and growing habitat. The root of the problem was driven by a disruption in the food web caused by the artificial introduction of wild turkeys. Wild turkeys were introduced to southern Maine by 1980. Relocation continued across the state for 20 years by netting birds from established New England flocks. The goal of the program was to increase hunting opportunities. Regulated, permit-only hunting kept the birds safe and propagated the current population.
Increased wild turkey populations have caused disruptions in the bug food chain. Voracious, shoulder to shoulder eating habits have stripped tracts of woods, edge and grassland of large protein filled grasshoppers, caterpillars, worms, grubs, beetles and spiders among others. Leaving areas reduced in bug life is detrimental to many wild creatures (migratory song birds, snakes, shrews, voles and moles) and beneficial to others (Gypsy Moths, Japanese Beetles and Ticks).
Many species of spiders and insects rely on other bugs for food. These creatures are called predator bugs. Their populations reflect the amount of protein a particular area’s bugs are producing. Foliage and grass-eating insects convert vegetation into protein. Sub-terrestrial beetles, grubs and worms convert decaying vegetation into protein. Turkey’s aptitude for fast growth and large food consumption have decreased the protein-producing bug numbers. Eggs and larvae (protein) are the currency of the bug world. When a caterpillar is eaten, it doesn’t mature to lay eggs as a moth. Reduction of eggs and larvae is reflected in reduced bug populations.
As mammals depend on protein in milk, insect and spider populations depend on protein in eggs and larvae. Tick populations have not suffered because their protein source is warm blooded animals. Like any insect or spider, a tick’s largest predator is other young spiders and insects eating their eggs and larvae. Reduced predator bug populations provide sanctuary for tick eggs and larvae. History shows a balanced food web will not allow for an exponential growth in tick population. Current rates will continue until the natural predators are restored to their past levels, when ticks were virtually nonexistent. The disruption turkeys caused in the complex food web is the primary reason we have a tick-borne disease public health crisis.
Many publicly funded studies and reports were consulted to better illustrate this connection. A passive, statewide tick surveillance was initiated in 1989 to record the species, size, season, location, host and age, with a report published in 2007. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife made a Wild Turkey Assessment, recording a basic timeline and reasoning behind the turkey program. Public records clearly show that where wild turkey populations had grown, tick populations increased exponentially. In 2010, the Maine State Legislature required the Maine CDC to record all incidences of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Up to date wild turkey harvest records are available from MDIF&W. The help of numerous MDIF&W wildlife biologists, the Vector-Borne Disease research group led by Chuck Lubelczyk and the wisdom of the Maine State Legislature made the pieces available to put this puzzle together. Thanks Given!
Primary sources to consult are:
Of the New England Patriots’ five Super Bowl wins, Tom Brady has been MVP ofur times. Who was the fifth?
The following Personal Representatives have been appointed in the estates noted. The first publication date of this notice is January 25, 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.
2017-356 – Estate of KAY L. HAGGAN, late of Moscow, Me deceased. Frank M. Haggan, Jr., 296 Point Road, Belgrade, Me 04917 appointed Personal Representative.
2017-361 – Estate of LASZLO KAKUK, late of Madison, Me deceased. Mary DaCosta, 1309 E Madison Road, Madison, ME 04950 and Kim Orlando, 23 Pincrest Avenue, Mashpee, MA 02649 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.
2018-001 – Estate of DARLEEN R. WAYE, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Monica L. Morin, 136 East Madison Road, Madison, Maine 04950 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-002 – Estate of NANCY L. HOLT, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Nancy L. Gold, 370 North Avenue, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
017-340 – Estate of ROBERT T. GREENLAW, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Danna J. Greenlaw, 11 Weeks Street, Fairfield, Me 0437 and Evelyn A. Greenlaw, 56 Tampa Street, Lewiston, Me 04240 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.
2018-005 – Estate of BETTE ANN CHESLEY-PHINNEY, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Woodrow C. Phinney, PO Box 474, Norridgewock, Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-006 – Estate of GLADYS P. TOTH late of Mercer Me deceased. William H. Toth 99 Pond Road, Mercer Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
018-007 – Estate of ELIZABETH ERB HOGATE, late of Cornville, Me deceased. Melvin J. Hogate, Jr., 169 West Ridge Road, Cornville, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-008 – Estate of FLORIENE C. NELSON, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. John H. Nelson, Jr., 41 Pleasantdale Avenue, Waterville, Me 04901 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-009 – Estate of EDGAR McDONALD, late of Moscow, Me deceased. George McDonald, 614 Pierce Hill Road, Moscow, Me 04920 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-010 – Estate of REGINALD A. CLEMENT, late of Starks, Me deceased. Kathryn L. Clement, 771 Sandy River Road, Starks, Me 04911 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-011 – Estate of DAVID A. JACKSON, late of Henderson, NC, deceased. Jodi Elliott, 5037 Goochs Mill Road, Oxford, NC 27565 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-012 – Estate of GERALD ALBERT RAYMOND, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Ginger M. Raymond, 196 Pleasant Street, Clinton, Me 04927 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-013 – Estate of EILEEN R. STEVENS, late of Skowhegan, Me, deceased. Secha E. Steward, 190 Corson Road, Mercer, Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-014 – Estate of DARREN A. DOMONSKI, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Lorrie L. Farewell, 811 Main Street, Pittsfield, ME 04967 appointed Personal Representative.
2018-017 – Estate of RICHARD E. PARSONS JR., late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Julie A. Fitzgerald, 547 Middle Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
To be published on January 25, 2018 & February 1, 2018.
Dated: January 22, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch, Register of Probate
(2/1)
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 February 14, 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.
2018-004 – Estate of SARAH EMILY SMITH. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Sarah Emily Smith, 41 Grassland Ln, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting her name be changed to Sarah Emily Leavitt for reasons set forth therein.
2018-016 – Estate of JAKE MICHAEL OCTAVE GEHRKE. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Jake Gehrke, 63 Joaquin Road, Athens, Me 04912 requesting his name be changed to Jake Michael Octave Norton for reasons set forth therein.
2018-021 – Estate of AIDAN W. LORENTSEN. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Louise McGraw, 381 Hartland Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 requesting minor’s name be changed to Aidan Wesley McGraw for reasons set forth therein.
2018-020 – Estate of ISAAC JAMES DORKO. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by petitioner Isaac James Dorko, 676 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting his name be changed to Avery Dorko for reasons set forth therein.
Dated: January 22, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(2/1)
by Debbie WalkerEver notice how sometimes things are easier when you put them in your own words rather than maybe the appropriate one? You know, bring them down to your terms.
I think I do it out of a healthy disrespect for the real terms, and sometimes because my words are just shorter. I’ve done some of that here.
I made a long put-off trip to the dermatologist to have a little mole thing on my forehead looked at. They told me just by looking at it that it was a basil cell carcinoma, lot of words for cancer. Instantly, that thing reminded me of being in Maine, come in from the woods with a tick on you and all you want to do is get it off you! And anyone else in the room starts checking for any ticks on themselves. Well my immediate reaction was: GET THAT THING OF ME, NOW! This little mole thing was now my “tick” and I wanted it gone, now!
Well, beside the little tick I had a bump on my upper left leg. It has never been discolored; it has never burned, itched, hurt, changed colors, nothing. However, it has started to grow and just a little bit ago it seemed to be forming groupies around it. So, hey, since I’m here I might as well ask him what kind of thing that was. Well you know how it goes, almost like with your car, it could be this or it could be that, usually it is the more expensive one but sometimes you get lucky. So the doc did his little biopsy of both tick and bump.
Tick test came back next day just what they said it was and it was going to have to come off. I’m ready, now. However we (they) were waiting on the bump’s biopsy that it turns out had to be sent away. Oh yeah, I’m a little nervous now, but better safe than sorry.
The “tick” was no big deal; they took that off in a matter of minutes and a few stitches. But it seems that the “bump” was going to send me to a specialist, seems it was a little on the rare side and had a name I think includes all the letters of the alphabet in it. So I was sent off to Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, Florida. Probably means nothing to you guys but in Florida this place is top of the line, all the way!
That little bump that never did anything but grow to about the size of a nickel was going to require an 8-inch by 6-inch cut down to the muscle to get rid of, I had one layer of stitches and one layer of staples. This particular cancer is rare and has a 95 percent success rate. AND, for it to be considered not successful only means it will grow back in the same spot. Now as cancers go I consider myself very lucky.
We all do it; we all put things off, “Ah, that isn’t anything.” I will admit that for while I had an idea what the tick was and even then put it off, lack of money, insurances, time from work, etc. As for the little bump, looked like the most harmless thing in the world and as I said, never gave a sign of it being anything other than a bump on the skin. But if you think about it, what was the bump doing there, I didn’t have one anywhere else?
Please take this seriously. My tick is long gone and my bump was removed December 23, 2008. Yup, I am making fun of them, that healthy disrespect I was talking about but this is serious. If you have ticks or bumps or whatever word you decide to call them, do yourself and your family a huge favor and go now. Don’t wait. If it turns out to be nothing, go celebrate, if it is something, deal with it. You wouldn’t leave a tick on there knowing it was there, would you?
This is one time when I wish my curiosity had won me over sooner!
Thanks for reading and if anything here rings a bell to you: Check it out!
Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com sub line: Ticks and Bumps.
by Peter CatesJoan Morris, soprano, with William Bolcom, piano. Nonesuch H-71304, stereo LP, recorded 1974.
Joan Morris and her husband, William Bolcom, have been serving up records and concerts for over 45 years since the early seventies, their specialty being popular songs and composers from the Civil War to the ‘50s Lieber and Stoller. One album spotlighted Henry Clay Work, who wrote My Grandfather’s Clock.
The above set collects classic and not so classic vaudeville hits – Meet Me in Saint Louis, I‘ve Got Rings on My Fingers, the title song, my special favorite Love’s Old Sweet Song and ten others – and Joan Morris gives her charming colorful soprano best with her husband’s skilled keyboard. Their approach is that of the Sunday afternoon drawing room or parlor at Aunt Blanche’s but it is one making for great listening, in small doses!
Suite Italienne
Debussy: Sonata for Cello and Piano; Busoni: Kleine Suite, Op. 23; Foss: Capriccio for Cello and Piano – Gregor Piatigorsky, cello; Lukas Foss, piano; RCA Victor, LM-2293, mono LP, recorded 1958.
Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976) was a bear of a man in his physique as well as being one of the 20th century’s truly fine cellists and turning out recordings characterized by a special kind of electrifying intensity and sublime beauty. Two special favorites are his early ‘40s Dvorak Cello Concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra and the two Brahms Cello Sonatas from the ‘70s with pianist Artur Rubinstein.
This week’s record contains the listed works by four quite gifted and interesting modern composers. However, my favorite piece is the just over 10 minute Debussy Cello Sonata, one of the most beautiful examples of quiet sweet subtlety, mystery and bursting rhythm ever written by anyone and performed in the most alive, exciting yet delicate manner by the cellist and his partner, composer/pianist Lucas Foss.
Tijuana Taxis
RCA Camden, CAS-961, stereo LP, recorded 1966.
This batch of ten ‘60s Latin-American tunes, including the two classics, Spanish Eyes and Spanish Harlem, is arranged and performed by a studio group of carefully handpicked instrumentalists under the noted pop conductor, Leo Addeo, in an understated manner that is pleasant but not moving.
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercyThe Solon Budget Committee meeting was held at the Municipal building on Saturday, January 20, with the following in attendance: Ann Padham, Bruce Hills, Frank Ridley, Barbara Johnstone, Eleanor Pooler, Carol White, Donald Kenerson, George Williams, Albert Starbird, Allen Foss, Joseph Albuit, Jeff Pomelow, Lois Miller and Gaye Erskin . Selectmen, Elaine Aloes, Mary Lou Ridley and Sarah Davis; Treasurer, Sharon Begin; Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Leslie Giroux, Road Commissioner, Mike Foster, Fire Chief, Duayne Rollins. Others there were Keith Galleger, who is running for the selectman position in March and Lief and I.
A meeting of the Coolidge Library Trustees meeting was held at the library on January 18 with the following in attendance: Librarian, Megan Myers, Richard Roberts, Mary Farrar, Jane Ouderkirk, Allen Foss, Lief Bull, and Diane Trussell.
Megan passed out copies of her report and answered questions. The School Bookmark Contest continues to be popular. The winning submission is chosen from each class (Pre K-5) at Solon Elementary School. Megan was this year’s judge, along with the district art teacher.
The annual Summer Reading Program ran June 29 – August 10. This year’s activities were assisted by a local teen volunteer. During the program, Build a Better World, she focused on books and activities that promoted science, engineering, arts and community awareness. There was a small but consistent attendance. Meals were again available to all children and teens from the school’s Summer Meals Program.
Was pleased to receive an e-mail from Ferra Kelley about the following information: Once again, volunteer members of AARP will be preparing & filing Federal/State tax returns, free of charge, to senior and low income families in the area. The Crossroads Bible Church, 705 White School House Rd. Madison have again generously allowed us to work out of their premises, and we are taking appointments for Friday & Saturday mornings, beginning in February. Please do not make calls to the church directly, as they are not otherwise involved in the program. Call Ferra @ 643-2559 to schedule an appointment.
I’m glad that several of you liked the article on manners in this column last week, and as promised I will send more of them when space allows….but, we must leave space for Percy’s memoirs:
“It’s the little things we do and say
That means so much as we go our way.
A kindly deed can lift a load
From weary shoulders on the road.
Or a gentle word, like summer rain.
May soothe some heart and banish pain.
What joy or sadness often springs
From just the simple little things.”
This is from one of those little Salesian Inspirational Books, that I have collected for many years.
