Week of January 4, 2018

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Week of January 4, 2018

With winter settled in, ice fishing success increases

Ice fishing on Webber Pond can be really good, particularly in January and March. I’ve learned a few things over the years and I’d like to pass them on. Usually, fish are most active just after the ice forms and in March as the snow melts, bringing oxygenated water into the pond. February can be slow…. [read more here…]

Your Local News

Short agenda leads to variety of discussions

CHINA — China selectmen turned a short agenda into a variety of discussion topics at their between-holidays meeting Dec. 27. Called primarily to pay biweekly bills, the meeting included updates on the road crew’s work in the Christmas storm and on the new Neck Road fire pond; proposals to record selectmen’s meetings and to change the meeting time; ways to find a successor to Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux, who is retiring at the end of June; and plans to look into increased police service….

Kennebec Historical Society to hear Joey Kelley

AUGUSTA — Come for a ride through 150 years of history in Waldo County. Chartered in 1867, the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad has survived two world wars, the construction of highways, the collapse of the poultry industry in Waldo County and survives today as a tourist railroad and historic relic of days gone by. This presentation by author and railroad historian Joey Kelley outlines the history of this unique railroad and gives you a summary of his book on the subject – the very first book ever written on the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad….

Erskine to hold parent/teacher conferences

CHINA — Erskine Academy has scheduled Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, January 17, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. (snow date will be Thursday, January 18….

Care & Comfort workplace cited

WATERVILLE — Care & Comfort, a leading provider of Home Health and Behavioral Healthcare, was recently recognized as one of Maine’s best employers for workers over the age of 50 for 2017 by the Maine State Workforce Investment Board’s Older Workers Committee….

Kringleville has one of its best years

WATERVILLE — Another magical season at Kringleville in the friendly city of Waterville has come to an end. The visitors seemed to be full of visions of Legos and hatchimals dancing in children’s heads, rather than sugar plums of old. The elves were certainly hard at work in the North Pole making toys for all the good little boys and girls. Elves, Cinnamon and Cinnamon Stick were busy at Kringleville in the cabin taking photos of folks who stopped to tell Santa what their Christmas wishes were….

Shalahn Staten, serving in leadership position of Assumption’s ALANA Network

CLINTON — The Assumption College Office of Student Activities, in Worcester, Massachusetts, has announced that Shalahn Staten, of Clinton, has been elected, and is currently serving, as president of ALANA Network for the 2017-18 academic year….

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Fallen state trooper remembered

SOMERSET COUNTY — On Monday, December 11, Senator Paul Davis (R-Piscataquis) and Senator Scott Cyrway (R-Somerset), joined retired Trooper Mark Nickerson, Trooper Seth Allen, Trooper Tyler Harrington and Lieutenant Jackie Theriault at Brown Cemetery in Benton to visit the grave of Trooper Thomas J. Merry, a hero who died in the line of duty in July of 1980, in Palmyra….

Give Us Your Best Shot!

Our best winter shots from local residents, and one to make you think of summer….

Obituaries – week of January 4, 2017

OAKLAND – John W. Casey, Jr., 80, died Monday, December 11, 2017. He was born July 2, 1936, the son of John Casey, Sr. and Margaret Nugent Casey….. and 11 others…

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Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS: News flash – the birds are back in town

by Roland D. Hallee | It was prompted by a telephone call, on December 20, from a reader in Freedom who alerted me that birds had returned to her feeders. So, I went home, told my wife about the conversation I had with the caller, and proceeded to refill our feeders. It took a couple of days, but by the the time of the nor’easter of Christmas day, it was business as usual at the stations….
News flash: the birds are back in town

ERIC’S TECH TALK: Does the future spell the end of local news?

by Eric W. Austin | In August of 1981, an upstart cable TV station began broadcasting these slick new videos set to music. They called it “music television.” The first music video to air on the new channel was the Buggles’ song “Video Killed the Radio Star.” It was supposed to herald the end of radio’s dominance and introduce the world to television as a new musical medium. Instead, nearly 40 years later, music can hardly be found on MTV and radio is still going strong….
Does the future spell the end of local news?

MESSING ABOUT: Always consider the “rule of threes”

by Ron Maxwell | The more one wanders about in the land of survival talk, the more one hears about the rule of threes. It has been approached by many writers in many styles with many words and I claim no exclusivity to any part of it. The rule of threes is however a clever thing and worthy of our consideration….
Always consider the “rule of threes”

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI: Tahra Story

by Peter Cates | Tahra was a historical CD label started in 1992 by Myriam Scherchen, daughter of the conductor, Hermann Scherchen (1891-1966), and her late husband, Rene Tremaine, journalist, producer and voracious record collector. They started the label as a means of releasing previously unavailable tapes, recordings that had been out of print for decades and some restored material that had wretched sound in their earlier release but now were much improved….
Tahra Story

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySolon & Beyond

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy! It has been awhile since I sat down at this computer to write a column, perhaps you noticed that The Town Line wasn’t published last week. Hadn’t had a chance to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!…
SOLON & BEYOND

I’m Just Curious: The way we learn

by Debbie Walker | Yes, I have been into my books again. Okay, now give me a chance, quit rolling your eyes. It might be interesting. (I can hope!) Make a cup of coffee or tea and sit for a spell. This morning I found a book that I hadn’t seen for a while. The title is The Way They Learn, by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. It has to do with how we all learn in different ways….
The way we learn

For Your Health: Use Your Brain To Tackle Tinnitus

(NAPSI)—Approximately 80 percent of people with hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus—a ringing, buzzing, whistling or other noises in the ear. It can disrupt life and interfere with your enjoyment of everyday activities, but you can find relief. Hearing aids have proven helpful for people with hearing loss who also experience tinnitus. That’s because with better hearing, the brain has other external sounds to listen to, making tinnitus less disturbing. Improved hearing also takes away the strain of listening, especially in difficult listening situations, and may help to reduce the stress associated with tinnitus….
Use Your Brain To Tackle Tinnitus

Give Us Your Best Shot! week of January 4, 2018

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REMEMBER THIS?: Pat Clark, of Palermo, photographed these water lilies last June.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT: A blue jay and cardinal talk about it over lunch in Michael Bilinsky’s backyard in China Village.

PEEK A BOO: Bob Poulin, of Winslow, captured this chipmunk peeking out of this downspout.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Use your brain to tackle tinnitus

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Hearing aids have proven helpful for people with hearing loss who also experience tinnitus.

(NAPSI)—Approximately 80 percent of people with hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus—a ringing, buzzing, whistling or other noises in the ear. It can disrupt life and interfere with your enjoyment of everyday activities, but you can find relief.

Hearing aids have proven help-ful for people with hearing loss who also experience tinnitus. That’s because with better hear-ing, the brain has other external sounds to listen to, making tinni-tus less disturbing. Improved hearing also takes away the strain of listening, especially in difficult listening situations, and may help to reduce the stress associated with tinnitus.

Refocusing the Brain

There are many ways to take control of your tinnitus and reduce its impact on your life. Oticon Opn™ hearing aids offer the benefits of a balanced and rich sound experience that doesn’t overload the brain and a powerful solution for tinnitus relief. With built-in Tinnitus SoundSupport, the hearing aids allow you benefit from a range of soothing relief sounds, including popular ocean and nature sounds. You can adjust the sounds until they give the relief you need—wherever you find yourself needing it. You can also wirelessly stream alter-native tinnitus relief options, such as your favorite music, audio books, podcasts, or even relaxation guides directly to your hearing aids.

Hearing Care Is Health Care

It makes good sense to take care of your hearing health, just as you do the rest of your health. You owe it to yourself to schedule a visit with a hearing care professional for a hearing evaluation.

Learn more at www.Oticon.com/Opn.

Answer to Roland’s Trivia Question, Week of January 4, 2018

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Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In what year was the first Super Bowl played?

Answer:

1967. (Green Bay Packers, 35, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 10.) It was known as the AFL-NFL World Championship game. Later renamed Super Bowl I.

Return to SCORES & OUTDOORS

SCORES & OUTDOORS: News flash – the birds are back in town

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Roland D. Hallee
by Roland D. Hallee

It was prompted by a telephone call, on December 20, from a reader in Freedom who alerted me that birds had returned to her feeders. So, I went home, told my wife about the conversation I had with the caller, and proceeded to refill our feeders.

It took a couple of days, but by the the time of the nor’easter of Christmas day, it was business as usual at the stations. The birds were back with a fury and it was standing room only on the feeders with a waiting line perched in nearby trees. They were hanging out on the wind chimes, waiting their turns, and one actually set himself, sideways, on an icicle.

There were chickadees, house finches, gold finches, nuthatches, cardinals, blue jays and juncos, even an occasional downy woodpecker. There was also a bird I couldn’t identify (it didn’t hang around long enough). It was like the good old days.

It has been well over a week now, and the activity hasn’t let up. In fact, I think it has escalated.

As a whole, bird populations fluctuate seasonally and from one year to the next for a range of reasons. According to the Audubon Society, often when someone reports that birds have gone missing from their yard, they are just seeing normal variation. However, what we all witnessed this past summer and fall was unusual in that there was a complete void of birds.

Causes for these regular changes include:

Fluctuating food supplies/ requirements. Cones, berries, seeds, and insects change from year to year, causing birds to move about to take advantage of food surpluses and to escape from areas with food shortages. Also, birds have different dietary needs during different times of the year, so they may move to or away from your feeders seasonally. You may notice fewer birds at your feeders during the late summer and early fall as there is usually lots of natural food available.

Weather patterns. Birds may temporarily move out of areas to avoid droughts, floods, storms, exceptional heat and cold waves, and other unusual weather conditions. However, with the recent extreme cold snap, the feeders are busier than ever.

Predator populations. Foxes, birds of prey, cats, and other predators have fluctuating populations too. When their populations are high, bird populations may fall. This can also happen on a very local scale, such when a hawk takes up residence in your yard. When the predators move on, your birds will come back.

Disease. On rare occasions, outbreaks of diseases can sharply reduce numbers of certain birds.

Habitat change. Tree removal, housing developments, land clearing, fires, and other changes can change the number or types of birds you see.

But none of the above reasons made any sense of the fact that the absence of the birds was not a normal occurence. It seemed to be isolated to this year.

Bird numbers fluctuate for natural reasons, but many populations of bird species are declining consistently from year to year.

The North American Breeding Bird Survey estimates how species’ populations have changed since the mid-1960s. In 2010, Partners In Flight compiled a list of Common Birds in Steep Decline – 42 species that have lost 50 percent or more of their population since the 1960s.

The 2016 State of North America’s Birds report examined 1,154 native bird species that are found in Canada, the continental United States, and Mexico, and determined that over 37 percent are of high conservation concern and at risk of extinction without significant efforts at conservation.

Projects such as NestWatch and FeederWatch focus on gathering data on birds during breeding and winter feeding times, respectively. Habitat Network, seeks to add another layer of data to bird watching by allowing people to follow the patterns in their yards.

And one of the biggest citizen science efforts ever undertaken, eBird, allows people anywhere in the world to enter bird observations anywhere, anytime, into a worldwide database. eBird also allows you to record and organize your bird sightings, use maps to view real-time sightings of particular species, create charts detailing which birds are seen in your area, and when, and make graphs to compare species occurrence for an area over a period of up to five years.

Programs like Birdcast use data from sources like eBird to compile bird migration forecasts, pinpointing where species are at certain times during migration.

eBird and Birdcast are great resources to find out more about where species of birds might be after they disappear from your backyard.

Through these efforts, they are learning more than ever before about many basic questions: Where does a given species live? How abundant is it? How are these patterns changing with time? With a clearer understanding of these baselines, they are in a better position to analyze the underlying factors that are acting on bird populations, and chart courses of action for their benefit.

In the end, the birds seem to be back in the central Maine area. Let’s just hope they continue, and whatever happened to cause their temporary exodus from our backyards doesn’t occur for a while. We’ll be vigilant.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In what year was the first Super Bowl played?

Answer here.

Legal Notices, Week of January 4, 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 is December 21, 2017.

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.

2017-331 – Estate of SHANE E. DOYLE, late of Anson, Me deceased. JoAnna M. Clukey, 414 Ames Road, Cornville, Me 04976 appointed Personal

2017-332 – Estate of RICHARD E. CLEMONS, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Richard E. Longewin, 13 Wiley Street, Dover-Foxcroft, Me 04426 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-178 – Estate of DONALD W. MARTIN, late of Anson, Me deceased. Debra J. Sullivan, 79 Audubon Road, Norwood, MA 02062 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-334 – Estate of GEORGE H. STAPLES, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Susan M. Staples, 59 NE Village Road, Concord, NH 03301 and Beth D. Staples, 1389 State Street, Veazie, Me 04401 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2017-339 – Estate of MARION MCCAIG, late of St Albans, Me deceased. Diane Phillips, 911 Irving St. NE, Washington, DC, 20017 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-344 – Estate of JULIE A. JEWELL, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. H. Stephen Jewell, 299 Russell Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-346 – Estate of ROGER M. EMERSON aka ROGER EMERSON aka ROGER M. EMERSON JR, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Bettina L. Emerson, PO Box 174, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-347 – Estate of JOYCE V. DAVIS, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Michele Hubbard, PO Box 55, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-349 – Estate of KEVIN S. JUDKINS, late of Solon, Me deceased. Christopher Judkins, 39 Red Bridge Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-350 – Estate of BARBARA E. SMITH, late of Madison, Me deceased. Cindy J. Bossie, 28 Perkins St. Madison, Me 04950 and Lisa M. Murray, 70 Blue Ridge Drive East, Sidney, Me 04330 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2017-351 – Estate of MYRTLE L. MARBLE, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Deanna R. Tilton, 140 Raymond Street, Pittsfield, Me 04967 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-352 – Estate of JOANNE M. WOODARD, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. James Darin Woodard, 25 Prescelly Drive, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-353 – Estate of KERRY D. HEBERT, late of Starks, Me deceased. Jennifer Weig Hebert, PO Box 582, Starks, Me 04911 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-354 – Estate of BYRON D. POOLER, late of Madison, Me deceased. Morgan J. Pooler, P.O. Box 121, Jay, Maine 04239 appointed Personal Representative.

IN ADDITION: A claim against the following estate may be presented to the Franklin County Probate Court, 140 Main Street, Suite 6, Farmington, Me 04938.

2017-0189 – Estate of GEORGE H. TAYLOR, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. George A. Taylor, 171 Back Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on December 21, 2017 & December 28, 2017.
Dated: December 18, 2017 /s/ Victoria Hatch, Register of Probate
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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 January 17, 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.

2017-360 – Estate of COLTON JETT-THEO PARSONS. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Byron D. Tibbetts, 53 Chandler Hill Road, Ripley, Me 04930 requesting minor’s name be changed to Colton Jett Tibbetts for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: December 29, 2017 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(1/11)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
SOMERSET, SS
NOTICE TO HEIRS
Estate of MYRTLE L. MARBLE
DOCKET NO. 2017-351

It appearing that the following heirs of MYRTLE L. MARBLE, as listed in an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative is of unknown address as listed below:

Blaine Lovely
Wanda Lovely
Marvin Wayne Lovely

THEREFORE, notice is hereby given as heirs 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 December 21, 2017.

Names and address of Personal Representative: Deanna R. Tilton, 140 Raymond Street, Pittsfield, Me 04967.

Dated: December 21, 2017
/s/ Victoria M. Hatch
Register of Probate
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STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
SOMERSET, SS
NOTICE TO HEIRS
Estate of
ROGER M. EMERSON, JR
DOCKET NO. 2017-346

It appearing that the following heirs of ROGER M. EMERSON JR, as listed in an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative is of unknown address as listed below:

Unknown names and unknown addresses

THEREFORE, notice is hereby given as heirs 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 December 21, 2017 & December 28, 2017.

Names and address of Personal Representative: Bettina L. Emerson, PO Box 174, Palmyra, Me 04965.

Dated: December 18, 2017
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(1/4)

I’m Just Curious: The way we learn

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by Debbie Walker

Yes, I have been into my books again. Okay, now give me a chance, quit rolling your eyes. It might be interesting. (I can hope!) Make a cup of coffee or tea and sit for a spell.

This morning I found a book that I hadn’t seen for a while. The title is The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. It has to do with how we all learn in different ways. I wish our schools were able to teach to the individual style needed for each person. How incredible that would be.

The portion I really liked was in the chapter, “How Do We Understand.” The man ‘speaking’ was a police officer who helped investigate auto accidents. One thing he discovered was that three people could be looking at the same scene yet they will see different pieces of the same scene.

One witness gives an accurate description of the cars involved, the year, make, and models (Ken). Another witness could tell nothing about the vehicles yet could give an accurate description of each driver (me, of course, I am going to talk about the emotions involved, too!). The third witness would tell all about the accident and how it appeared to happen (also Ken, but he wouldn’t talk about how it “appeared,” it would be a “fact”).

Okay look at it this way: we are all looking through different windows (our mental view). My window is a mess; I even have “clings” on it. Ken’s windows are crystal clear because he needs to be able to “see” clearly. I can see past the “clings” easily.

Ken would look through my window and be extremely frustrated. Ken is a retired truck driver and mechanic. The mechanic part is amazing. He’d take those motors all apart and put them together again. I might be able to get the thing apart but I believe in trying to put it together again I would have parts left over.

It becomes obvious we would need different styles of teaching to learn the same information. Think about all the frustrations you may have felt in teaching your child, a sibling or a co-worker, or sharing with your partner, does it make more sense to you now? I don’t think many of us are thinking about “the different window theory” when we are feeling frustrated and can’t get a point across or can’t understand something being explained. Try to remember there are different windows.

The person you thought of as “impossible” to teach or the person you want to understand you or… Remember about the windows.

I’m just curious if you will understand ‘the way they learn’ and be able to use the information in this New Year. Contact me with questions or comments at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Check us out on line. Thanks for reading!

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Tahra Story

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Last Tahra label

by Peter Cates

Tahra Story

Tah 768, one CD, released 2014.

Tahra was a historical CD label started in 1992 by Myriam Scherchen, daughter of the conductor, Hermann Scherchen (1891-1966), and her late husband, Rene Tremaine, journalist, producer and voracious record collector. They started the label as a means of releasing previously unavailable tapes, recordings that had been out of print for decades and some restored material that had wretched sound in their earlier release but now were much improved.

Hermann Abendroth

Although the catalog had several conductors, pianists and string players of significant interest throughout its availability, the couple’s initial focus would be three important conductors- Myriam’s father, Hermann Abendroth (1883-1956) and Wilhelm Furtwangler (1886-1954). I own a sizable pile of their releases and enjoy them thoroughly.

Unfortunately, the decision to end the label, due to several business considerations in 2014, was made and the above CD was its last release.

It was focussed one final time on the same three conductors – Scherchen, Abendroth and Furtwangler, each of whom was a brilliant interpreter of Beethoven. They were also very personalized and individualistic in their conducting styles and gave frequently exciting performances, of which there are five vibrant examples on this CD:
Scherchen conducted a short instrumental piece by the fascinating French baroque composer, Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), Sixieme concert en sextuor , from a 1964 broadcast; and a powerful Schubert Unfinished Symphony, from a long, out-of-print 1960 LP.

Wilhelm Furtwangler

Abendroth was a most adept political survivor under two totalitarian regimes. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Abendroth was resistant to, and highly critical, of the regime; thus he lost one conducting post. By 1937, he had joined the Nazi Party and appointed music director of the Leipzig Gewand­haus.

After the war, he was again dismissed by the recently installed Communist government in East Germany yet within a few short years would be busy doing concerts and recordings mostly in Leipzig and Berlin. After his death, from a stroke he suffered during surgery, he was honored by the East German government with a state funeral.

On this CD, Abendroth conducts the opening Allegro moderato, from Bruckner’s 7th Symphony, in a majestic, truly stirring 1951 broadcast performance.

Hermann Scherchen

Furtwangler is generally the most well-known conductor of the three, even sparking more interest in his many live and studio recordings since his death more than 60 years ago. He had a unique talent for communicating the spiritual essence of whatever musical piece he was conducting, whether it was Mozart or Wagner, and his sizable catalog of CDs is more profitable than that of any other conductor, alive or dead!

He conducts the Beethoven 7th’s joyously jubilant first movement in a 1943 Berlin Philharmonic broadcast and the same composer’s 5th Symphony’s second movement in a 1954 Vienna Philharmonic concert, both renditions typically fascinating Furtwangler tracks.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of January 4, 2018

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

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

It has been awhile since I sat down at this computer to write a column, perhaps you noticed that The Town Line wasn’t published last week. Hadn’t had a chance to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

As I look up, I see a very funny calendar that Lief received for Christmas, it gave me a good laugh!

Was pleased to receive an Embden Historical Society, Inc., program the other day. Officers for 2017-2018 are president, Carol Dolan; vice president, Larry Witham; secretary, Nancy McLean; and treasurer, Bob Donovan.

Executive Committee: one-year term, Norma Campbell; two-year term, Jim Lightbody, Sr.; three-year term, Lois Erickson.

There won’t be any meetings during January and February. On March 12, the program will be DVD Blizzard to Blossoms (Winter 1948-49, Skowhegan), sounds interesting. (The meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with the program at 7 p.m.).

Received a phone call about a Soup and Sandwich lunch on Saturday, January 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the East Madison Fire Station. This lunch, raffle and silent auction is sponsored by the East Madison Grange and donations for the Home of Little Wanderers would be appreciated.

Now for more news from Solon Elementary School. In November RSU #74 recognized the winners of the Principal’s Awards in math, reading, and science for their performance on the state test, the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA), in 2016-17. Each year they choose the top scorer in the district on the MEA in reading and math in grades 3, 4, and 5 and in science in grade 5. Each winner receives a certificate and a check for $50 (donated by community members Chet & Sara Hickox and the three PTOs), and their names are displayed on plaques in the hallway at CCS.

Four Solon students were recipients of these district awards this year. Our 2016-17 winners were Gavyn Easler, (third grade math), William Rogers (third grade reading), and Desmond Robinson (fourth grade math and reading). Former Solon student Jayden Cates won the fifth grade math award, and former Garret Schenck students Devyn Deleonardis and Asa Flanagin won the reading and science awards.

Received an e-mail from Tim Hunt, pastor of New Hope Church in Solon: “I would like to share with you something I am really excited about. I have been invited to go on a mission trip to Uganda with a few other pastors. Pastor Bob Emrich who is the Director of Hope and Mercy Mission in Uganda is leading the trip. We will be going to teach and preach the Word of God to these Ugandans to help equip them to reach Uganda with the Gospel of Christ.

“We will be leaving Boston on February 5 and arriving back on February 16.”

The trip will be quite costly, so if you would like to help, you can call 207-643-5601 or write to PO Box 208, 111 So. Main St., Solon, Maine for more information.

And now for Percy’s memoir: It is from a scrap of paper I had saved, and it says I used it in the New Year of 1990. “Prayer For A New Year.”

Instead of anger
Let me feel Compassion.
Instead of rage
Let me show Concern.
Instead of hate
Let me seek Change.
For, if
To a warring, wondering world
Each of us will bring
Compassion, Concern, Change,
Then perhaps there will be Love.

MESSING ABOUT: Always consider the “rule of threes”

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MESSING ABOUT IN THE MAINE WOODS

by Ron Maxwell, China School Teacher/Outdoor Enthusiast

The more one wanders about in the land of survival talk, the more one hears about the rule of threes. It has been approached by many writers in many styles with many words and I claim no exclusivity to any part of it. The rule of threes is however a clever thing and worthy of our consideration. For those of you who have not heard, the rule of threes is a set of guidelines to use when prioritizing needs in a survival situation. A human can live three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, three weeks without food. Simple, yet elegant, the rule of threes can be easily memorized and put to practice.

Deal with each of the rules in turn when packing your bag. I don’t have worries about allergies or asthma, but if I did, an EpiPen and an inhaler would be first in the kit. Air sorted? Move on to shelter. Protect yourself from the wind at night with a tent or a tarp shelter. A water shedding outer layer will keep your rainy days usable, while a warm layer will make chilly afternoons and evenings comfortable. Check to see if you have the right rated sleeping bag for the season you are enjoying. I also always pack the reflective automotive sunshade to put between me and the ground for insulation and an emergency mylar blanket for an added layer above me just in case.

Water is easily the heaviest thing you will carry. In Maine, there are many sources for water so one could plan a hike around ponds and campsites and be very comfortable. Make sure to treat all water before you drink it. I went online and researched filters that went as high as a $100 but then settled on one for $20. It threads on a standard soda bottle for convenience and its price point was low enough that breaking or losing it didn’t worry me. You could just as easily use a simple can to boil the water to kill the microscopic contaminants. Different sources say different times for boiling, but I always go for five minutes at rolling boil. I start each day on trail with two 1-1/2 L “disposable” water bottles full of filtered water, one on each side of the pack. Excessive to some, but I find more is better than not enough.

Food is the last of the threes and I cannot conceive of going three weeks without. My breakfast plan is a high nutrition grain mix: amaranth, chia, quinoa and oats. Amaranth is high in protein, fiber and healthy oils. Chia is high in Omega 3s which are anti-inflammatory and it also slows how your body converts carbohydrates to sugars. Quinoa is a complete protein (it has all the necessary amino acids), has a low glycemic index, is high in fiber and has magnesium. Oats are high in dietary fiber, lower cholesterol and are filling.

Lunch is out of a bag while walking, usually homemade granola and a bag of trail mix. I carry coconut oil separately to add to the granola because it seems dry without something and milk just doesn’t work on the trail. Also, the added calories are always welcome when one is exerting in the woods. Dinner always starts with drinking water setting up camp. Then I eat whatever can be made with whatever energy is left. Ramen and bouillion and prepackaged meat usually work well for me with green tea.

Planning using the rule of threes is an effective survival strategy. Preparing for the weather will keep you comfortable. Keeping hydrated maintains body temperature and removes waste from the body. Portioning your meals and pre-bagging the day’s food at home is an easy way to control / plan the amount of food consumed. And that is how we thrive in the Maine Outdoors.