A representative from Thomas College, in Waterville, will meet with students to discuss Thomas’ academic and sports programs, and its residential life at Erskine Academy on Friday, September 15, at 8 a.m.
Thomas is a private, career-oriented college that prepares its undergraduates for careers in business, technology and education and guarantees employment within 90 days of graduation. For more information about Thomas, please visit www.thomas.edu.
John H. Twomey will speak about his recent book, Retiring To, Not From — From Massachusetts Professor to Maine Farmer. The discussion will encompass many aspects of life on his farm and his comments will be accompanied by a slide presentation. John and his partner Leigh Norcott live off grid in a 19th century Maine farmhouse. They raise vegetables, fruits, chickens and brook trout, and enjoy hiking and cross-country skiing on the many trails on the farm. Indeed, their lives include many aspects of life from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. John and Leigh live quietly and very much in touch with the natural world that surrounds them. Since 1978 John has worked on maintaining and improving wildlife habitat on the farm’s 125 acres. He will discuss these efforts, focusing attention on his work in the fields, brushy areas, and woodlands.
After 37 years as a professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, John retired in 2009 and moved, with his partner Leigh Norcott, to Montville, Maine. There they live simply and deliberately on the farm that John has owned since 1978. The farm operates on solar power, completely off grid, and John and Leigh work together as they produce almost all of their own food, and all of their own firewood. An avid naturalist, John has for years worked to maintain and improve the wildlife habitat on the farm. He does so by carefully scheduling the mowing of his fields and brushy areas, by planting, transplanting, grafting, and pruning hundreds of apple trees, and by planting thousands of white and chestnut oaks. Having seen farms sold and developed in his hometowns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, John long ago set his sights on owning and nurturing an old New England farm, a traditional home place. He has accomplished that and intends to permanently protect his Montville farm.
Delta Ambulance Citizens Academy is a hands-on opportunity for residents of the community to learn many different aspects of the skills utilized by Delta Ambulance Paramedics and EMTs.
This Academy is designed for people, who are interested in learning more about emergency medical services (EMS).
The academy provides hands-on training, one evening per week, from 6-8 p.m., for eight weeks. Instructors will demonstrate the skills of EMS crews. Participants will, with guidance, attempt a variety of EMT skills using mannequins for the purpose of understanding the role of the EMS professional
Participants will use the training they have received in the final session where they will treat a simulated patient in a mock patient-care scenario.
After CPR and AED training, academy participants will have the opportunity to ride along with a Delta Ambulance crew. A variety of daytime shifts are available.
Introduction to Delta Ambulance; ambulance equipment; Airway, respiratory emergencies; Medical Emergencies, Pharmacology, IV’s; Cardiology, Defibrillation, Reading Heart Rhythms; Traumatic Emergencies, Emergency Childbirth; Disaster Preparedness; CPR & AED (automatic external defibrillator) Training; Putting Everything Together, Code Drills, Academy ride-time.
Graduates will receive CPR/AED training and a greater understanding of emergency medical services.
There is no cost to attend Delta’s Citizens Academy. If one is interested, would like to register for the next academy or have questions please visit DeltaAmbulance.org, telephone our Director of Education: 207-861-4246 or mail to: Delta Ambulance Citizens Academy, 29 Chase Avenue, Waterville, Maine 04901
The first session will be October 2, at the Waterville Delta Headquarters (Chase Avenue) and class size is limited.
This academy does not offer or provide certification for participants to work as EMTs or respond to EMS calls.
The China Lake Association has announced that Tony and Nancy Bolyn, of China, received the LakeSmart Award for their lake front property. They have trees, shrubs and ground cover near the water front that act as a buffer to protect the lake from phosphorous entering during rain events. There are shrubs and mulch around the perimeter of their house to help absorb any rain coming off the roof. LakeSmart volunteers are able to visit property owners to give ideas of how they can protect the lake on their property. A volunteer can be reached at chinalakesmart@gmail.com or by calling Marie Michaud at 207-242-0240.
From left to right, Larry and Kathleen Hillman, Cindy Fairfield, Bob Brown, Bruce and Margaret Carter, and Nancy and Fred Temple. Contributed photo
On August 24, four local couples traveled to Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, for the annual Summer Magic Square & Round Dance weekend. The eight dancers were Larry and Kathleen Hillman, of Fairfield, Cindy Fairfield and Bob Brown, of Newport, (both couples are members of the Central Maine Square Dance Club of Waterville), Bruce and Margaret Carter, of Ellsworth, and Nancy and Fred Temple, of Richmond.
They enjoyed an early welcoming dance on Friday with 25 squares of dancers already there. That’s 200 individual dancers. The festival started with round dancing and at 8:45 p.m., the square dancing began with an additional 25 squares joining those already there. Saturday’s dancing started after breakfast, and except for lunch and dinner, went until 11:30 p.m. Sunday, dancing continued until 11:30 a.m.
With over 400 dancers from 20 states and most provinces of Canada dancing to international callers – Don Moger, of Quebec City, Quebec, Michael Kellogg and Charlie Robertson, of California, and Tony Oxendine, of South Carolina, and Round dancer cuer Steve Bradt, of Pennsylvania.
The Central Maine Square Dancers extend an invitation to anyone interested in learning to square dance to just show up on either Tuesday night September 16 or 26 at 6:30 p.m., for an informational evening of free beginner lessons. For more info call Bob 447-0094, Cindy 631-8816, or Jeff 416-6444.
The China Lake Association has announced that Sherry McGinnis, on China Lake, has just won the coveted LakeSmart Award. Sherry has lived on the lake for 31 years. Her property has a strong buffer at the water front that still allows her to enjoy a great view of the lake. The Youth Conservation Corp added to the buffer several native plants and timbers in 2016. Thank you Sherry for protecting our lake! If you would like to schedule a visit from a LakeSmart Volunteer, please contact Marie Michaud at ChinaLakeSmart@gmail.com or call 207-242-2040.
I would like to bring you back to what will be our future if lamprey become reestablished in Sheepscot Lake. I began fishing in Sheepscot in 1981, primarily for landlocked salmon and tongue. In 1986, after five years of fishing, I began to keep a Personal Fishing Record which was submitted to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife each year. On February 16, 1986, I made the following entry in the booklet after catching an 18-inch togue: “The togue did not have any lamprey marks which is uncommon in this lake. It had no fins clipped that I noticed and was in excellent health and very lively.” [read more …]
Making a healthy, tasty school lunch can be a breeze with Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels.
(NAPSI)—What your child eats for lunch matters more than you might realize, say the experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A healthy lunch and nutritious snacks can help keep your little scholars happy and attentive throughout the school day.
The CDC recommends making sure you include a “combination of foods” when you pack school lunches and, for “something sweet, grab a piece of fruit.” Your kids can “enjoy the naturally sweet taste while loading up on vitamins, fiber and other nutrients” instead of empty calories.
Making that easier are freeze-dried, 100 percent pure fruit snacks that come in convenient single-size serving bags. There are no preservatives and no added sugar, oils or fats—just fruit. What’s more, they’re non-GMO Project Verified, kosher and have 55 calories or less per bag.
The snacks come in seven flavors that kids like: apple, Asian pear, banana, cantaloupe, mango, pineapple and tangerine. All these Crispy Fruit flavors are available in convenient 6-pack or individual, single-serving “Grab & Go” bags.
Major benefits of freeze-dried fruit are:
When it comes to providing healthy meals and snacks, parents can be “Pro-Packtive” in two other ways. First, visit www.poweryourlunchbox.com to find a wide variety of creative and delicious lunch options, such as:
Mix chicken, dip and carrots in small bowl. Divide between tortillas. Wrap up and cut into pinwheels.
Next, take the Power Your Lunchbox Pledge to eat a healthier lunch. For every parent who does, Produce for Kids will donate $1 to Feeding America.
For further facts, tips and recipes, visit www.crispygreen.com. You can also sign up for a one-time 20 percent discount and free shipping, plus a free, helpful, healthy lifestyle newsletter at www.crispygreen.com/crispygreen-vip-promotion/. To find a retailer nearby that carries Crispy Fruit, go to www.crispygreen.com/where-to-buy.html.
GARDEN WORKSWhat a busy time of year, plum full of chores to finish and fruits to process! Whilst hauling a cartload of garlic plants from one corner of the yard to the place where I clean and prepare them for curing, I happened to walk by the plum patch. Then and there my nose was greeted with the delightful aroma of ripening plums. Visions of plum cobblers danced in my head! Yes, I thought, I will pick these as soon as I bunch the garlic….. (which, by the way, I didn’t finish until 2 a.m.). Thankfully, when I was finally able to get out there and pick the plums, many were just right for harvesting. I was able to pick enough Purple Hearts and Cochecos to share at a family reunion and make a cobbler or two.
In fact, as I type, I am finishing a snack of plum cobbler with banana custard, trying with all my might not to besmirch the keyboard with a sticky, gooey, yummy mess. So with the lingering perfume in my yard and the delightful flavor on my palate, I am compelled to extol the virtues of this wonderful fruit in this article. We’ll look at what types of plums are most suitable for growing in our area, cultivation tips, and personal favorites. If you like plums, this is the article for you!
Plums, known as Prunus sp., are divided into several groups, among them are: American Plum – P. americana, P. nigra, P. besseyi, and P. maritima; Asian Plum – P. salicina; European Plum – P. domestica. Hybrids of American and Asian plums are commonly offered in the nursery trade as well. If you plan on growing plums, remember that they generally need to be pollinated by an adjacent plum tree from same compatible group with an overlapping bloom time. European plums are oftentimes self-fertile and are unable to pollinate or hybridize with American or Asian plums or their hybrids. So if you only have room for one tree, consider planting a European plum. Conversely, if space is not an issue, American, Asian, or hybrid plums are a great option. Remember, too, that more than one variety of plum of the same group can grow on a tree if it’s grafted! European plums take several years to bear and are oftentimes larger trees, while the others can bear sooner and are mostly smaller, more compact trees.
American, Asian, and Hybrid plums (Group A) appreciate full sun, well-drained soil, and a site where late-spring frosts are avoided. They generally are cold-hardier than European plums (Group B) – which are more tolerant of heavier soils. Group A plums have tendencies toward suckering like crazy and forming thickets, while Group B plums tend to grow as a single tree. Though not always the case, Group A can be susceptible to a disease called brown rot, and Group B is more likely to have problems with black knot. Make sure to prune off and burn any branches with abnormalities, especially if you spot something that looks like a dog pooped in your tree (black knot). Good airflow and sun exposure can do much to keep a plum tree healthy. Other than a yearly late-winter pruning, an application of slow-release azomite and a nice mulch, plum trees are relatively easy to care for if you keep ahead of their diseases. Resistant varieties might be a good choice for areas where plum pestilences are common.
I never spray my plums and always have enough to share. Some folks have problems with the plum curculio and apply Surround, a spray made from clay. The Fedco Trees catalog (in which you’ll find most of the trees mentioned in this article) suggests planting garlic in the plum patch. Chickens are said to be good predators for these pesky bugs, and cardboard laid on the ground under the tree smothers the curculio pupae. Japanese beetles can be a problem for time to time, though the trees will recover. If you’re worried, shake them off the tree into a bucket of soapy water. Yellow jackets will appear as the fruits ripen to perfection, and they seem busiest in the morning and on sunny days. You might beat them to the plums on a windy, rainy, cloudy day, or at sundown.
Now for my favorite part of this article! Really, the best way to find out if you like the taste of a plum is to try it. Right now the Purple Heart, Cocheco, and Black Ice plums are ripe. These are my favorites from Group A, simply because they are early and delicious. Purple Heart is hands down my favorite, is possibly the best plum in the world, and probably would be yours, too. No other plum compares with such an intense, spicy explosion of fragrance and flavor. The tree is susceptible to black knot, occasionally will get a bout of brown rot, and has an odd tendency to grow a curve in it’s trunk. I can certainly overlook these issues in favor of those fabulous purple, medium-large sized heart-shaped fruits that are delightful however you eat them- whether fresh or in desserts and sauce. Cocheco is the most beautiful plum tree I’ve seen- with red leaves, bark, and fruit. The upright-growing tree is healthy and vigorous. The soft, sweet medium-small round plums fade from red to an orangey-pink when ripe. They are delicious fresh. Black Ice is a wonderful, unique, large, round, dark purple plum with a scrumptiously sweet and mild flavor that is wonderful eaten on the spot. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever tried them cooked because they simply do not make it to my kitchen! Other delectable plums from Group A include LaCrescent, Pembina, Superior, Tecumseh, and Underwood.
Of the Group B plums, Stanley – a large blue European oblong sweet plum- is among the best flavored of the prune types; It’s great fresh, dried, and in desserts and sauces. The “Gage” – type plums, such as Golden Transparent and Green Gage, are small, round, candy-sweet and wonderful.
Wild and seedling plums – though usually inferior in qualities than named varieties, make delicious sauce when fully ripe. They’re great when you’re feeling a bit on the wild side. I double dare you to try them!
Well, I better get back to the garden. Until next time, enjoy the dog days of August and all the delightful fruits and veggies that are ready to be savored right now.
The sight of land surveyors peering into tripod-mounted equipment by the roadside is common enough, but what are they actually doing? Frank Siviski, a professional land surveyor with more than 30 years of experience, will shed light on the seemingly mysterious world of boundary determinations.
Siviski has taught survey-related courses at Unity College, and is currently an instructor at Kennebec Valley Community College. His talk will help landowners understand how surveys are created, standards that are applied, and how landowners’ goals shape the outcome. If you have questions about boundary surveys, this is an opportunity to have those questions answered.
Siviski’s presentation is part of the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust’s monthly speaker series, “Restoring Connections to Place,” featuring a wide variety of conservation topics. The programs are held. on the second Wednesday of every month at the café, 93 Main Coffee Shop, located at 93 Main St., Unity. These monthly events are open to the public and a five dollar donation is suggested. For more information, please email info@sebasticookrlt.org or call 948-3766.
Students named to the U. Vermont dean’s list
