I’m Just Curious: Just a thought

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by Debbie Walker

# When I made my usual trip into Walmart I noticed people at the self-serve registers. I am disappointed when I see people checking themselves through. To me those self-serve registers are one step closer to a cashier losing a job. Not many stores even have people working enough hours for benefits anymore. I don’t want to be part of the demise of another job if I can help it.

# I am not a very political person. I get disgusted with the process and the arguments (oops, I mean discussions). I am sick to death of hearing about what Russia did or didn’t. Which political figure talked to whom?

# I really wish we didn’t have political parties. Watching from the sidelines it seems there is an awful lot of wasted time and effort for the three-plus parties to argue over any subject out there. It doesn’t matter how important the issue, what one wants the other will fight it. What a waste.

# Even the reporters are lame as far as I’m concerned. These people are very much opinionated about the winner or the loser. I want to know if they are really trying to play up their own “no favorites” but are showing they are clearly judgmental. Do they really believe people don’t hear their tone of voice or see their body language?

# Another disgusting matter is the deer ticks. I understand this is basically a man-made mess. More and more people are becoming sick with Lyme disease. My mom always told us kids if you make the mess get back in there and clean it up! So… to whoever is responsible: Clean it up!

# Oh yeah, then we have all the mess about insurances. How about if we get everyone on the same insurance as the senators and congressmen? Either that or put them on the insurance we have or don’t have, whichever the case. Oh yeah, and they need to pay for their own. (And stop taking their families on a government business (their vacation) trip. We know who’s paying what!

Okay, you know this is not a reflection on the newspaper; these are my thoughts, such as they are. I really don’t ever intend to offend anyone, I’m sorry if I have.

AND, don’t forget we have the column on the website for The Town Line and you can look up a past printings as well. I really enjoy Roland’s Scores and Outdoors. I love the stuff about our little critters!!

So… I’m Just Curious about soooo many things. How about you? Let’s keep our childlike curiosity! It’s fun!! Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com sub: Curious

Watch for “In Case You Wondered.” It’ll come out soon!

REVIEW POTPOURRI, Week of June 22, 2017

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Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates

Bach Suites 2 and 3

Fritz Rieger conducting the Munich Philharmonic- Mercury MG10068, vinyl lp, from 1940’s German radio broadcast tapes.

Fritz Rieger

These two Orchestral Suites of J.S. Bach constitute some of the most joyous, very melodic and quite listenable music, both for newcomers to classical music and experienced connoisseurs who already find them infinitely re-listenable. The Second is scored mainly for strings and solo flute and has been recorded by such gifted tootlers as James Galway and Jean Pierre Rampal. The Third is a festive affair evoking the spirit of a holiday in which the entire orchestra, particularly the brass and percussion, display their wares. However, a special quieter movement is the soothing and delectable Air for the G String.

Fritz Rieger (1910-1978) was conductor of the Munich Philharmonic for over 25 years, beginning in 1941, before he took a position with the down under Melbourne Symphony in the land of duck-billed platypuses and Aborigines. (For those readers who are wondering about Munich, 1941, yes he was a member of the Nazi Party. But there is documentation that he kept his own hands clean and was de-Nazified quickly.)

The performances are very graceful and grandiose, truly living breathing renditions of an exceptional quality while the mono sound is vivid for its day, as German radio had magnetic tape several years before we did !

I have collected other recordings of Rieger and enjoy them a lot – the complete Mozart Magic Flute, Brahms 1st Concerto with pianist Witold Malcuzynski and the Robert Schumann A Minor Concerto with Rudolf Serkin. YouTube has several Rieger items, some of which I have posted recently, including an early ‘70s video of the Maestro rehearsing a Bach Concerto for 4 Pianos with three other now deceased conductors, Rafael Kubelik, Rudolf Kempe and Wolfgang Savallisch.

Against All Odds

Jeff Bridges

Rachel Ward

Soundtrack- composed by Michel Colombier; Atlantic 80152-1-E, stereo LP, recorded 1984.

I have never seen this Jeff Bridges/ Rachel Ward thriller but, having read the Wiki synopsis, am now curious. The soundtrack itself is a first class mishmash of instrumentals underscoring the action and individual tracks by Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Big Country, Mike Rutherford, Kid Creole and the Coconuts and, last but not least, the sublime Phil Collins hit, Take a Look at Me Now. The instrumentals by Colombier and Larry Carlton are powerful and soaringly eloquent. Recommended listening.

Bennie Moten

Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Jazz- X- EVAA-3004, ep 45 reissue, early ‘50s from Victor shellac 78s recorded December 13 and 14, 1926, in Chicago.

Bennie Moten

Bennie Moten (1894-1935), led an outstanding Kansas dance band that was, arguably, the most popular one in that burg for much of the 1920s and early ‘30s until Moten’s tragic 1935 early death from a botched tonsillectomy. The four numbers on this 45 – Kansas City Shuffle; Yazoo Blues, Midnight Blues, and Missouri Wabble – make for compelling listening. Every note is alive, every texture well articulated and the variety of sounds coming from my speakers, ranging from the spunky banjo picking of Sam Tall to the brass shadings of cornettists Ed Lewis and Lamar Wright; trombonist Thamon Hayes; and Abe Bolar on tuba, etc., gives this record its status as a classic.

Local residents receive bachelor’s degrees

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On Saturday, May 13, on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) campus quadrangle, in Worcester, Massachusetts, over 1,000 bachelor’s degrees were awarded during the university’s 149th commencement ceremony.

Julia Pershken, of Albion, was awarded a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with distinction. Mikayla Bolduc, of Skowhegan, was awarded a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering.

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of June 22, 2017

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, you know very well that I used to own Lakewood-On-Lake Wesserunsett and because you know me well, you realize that I will tell you more about Lakewood’s history, but, right now, I just want to tell you about attending a Spiritualist meeting with a resident of Maplecrest, in Madison.

Oh, she was thoroughly enjoying every minute of what was being said. Yes, you are right that Spiritualists met in Lakewood’s Shanty when the Denis family were owners, but the new owners thought it best to give the Spiritualists one of the Lakewood cottages. So, you know why my Maplecrest resident wanted to “go home,” just as the speaker said that she had a message for me “from the unknown.” I was eager to hear who had a message for me, but Maplecrest’s rules dictated that, unless visiting the doctor, we accommodated the resident. Oh, well, so be it, but I shall always wonder who was sending me a message.

Y’know, WALLS, my grandfather Russell never missed a Spiritualist’s meeting and, though I have never been a believer, I thought about the messages that are referred to those attending the Spiritualists’ meeting, but, today, I was preparing all of your columns, WALLS, for the History House, in Skowhegan, and lo-and-behold, I had an October 2015 issue of The Town Line and the headline read, “Locals deal with paranormal activity.” Now, WALLS, you know I had read this, at the time, but my memory went to the Spiritualist meeting. There were people who had had “ghosts” appearing in their homes. What’s more, when I read, again, of the ‘piano playing’ and the house’s owner seeing a girl playing, I thought of my friend in New Jersey hearing someone playing the piano and singing in a second-story room of an antique home her family had purchased.

Then, memory broke my spell, WALLS. Do you remember when I was cooking and a coffee mug fell off the hook and landed straight up without breaking? Now, that mug remains where it landed and, for sure, that cup didn’t remove the hook that was keeping it in place, until plop!

Am I now a believer? No, but I’m sure curious about these strange things that happen to many of us, without warning and, for sure, without
reason.

Well, Walls, we sure have a long time to wait for The Town Line’s October issue, but, just in case our faithful readers have more paranormal experiences, remember that you read a bit about their existence. After all, do WALLS really talk?

Colby-Sawyer College names Haley Carver to dean’s list

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Colby-Sawyer College, in New London, New Hampshire, has named Haley Carver, of Sidney, to the dean’s list for academic achievement. Carver, whose major is sociology, is a member of the class of 2020.

To qualify for the dean’s list students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours in graded courses.

Gingras selected for Religious Studies Honorary Society

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Isaac H. Gingras, of Augusta, was inducted into the St. Lawrence University chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honorary society for religious studies and theology, in Canton, New York.

Gingras is a member of the class of 2018 and is majoring in government. Gingras attended Cony High School, in Augusta.

Mary Franks named to Castleton University dean’s list

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Castleton student Mary Franks, of Liberty, was recently named to the Castleton University dean’s list for the spring semester of the 2016-17 academic year, in Castleton, Vermont.

Buzzell named to the Champlain College dean’s list

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Jacob Buzzell, of Oakland, has been named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the spring 2017 semester, in Burlington, Vermont.

Students on the dean’s list have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the semester. Buzzell is majoring in Computer Science and Innovation.

Lasell College names Augusta resident to dean’s list

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Lasell College recently named Benjamin Allen of Augusta, to the Lasell College dean’s list for the Spring 2017 semester, in Newton, Massachusetts.
Allen, whose major is sports management, is a member of the class of 2019.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of June 22, 2017

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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!

The Stewart Public Library, in North Anson, will hold its annual book sale on Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the North Anson Fire Station, rain or shine. Books, magazines, audio books, DVDs, and CDs will be available for sale. New this year is a small area hosted by the volunteers, of collectible and newer books at higher prices. This area will only be open 9 a.m. to noon. Come and stock up on your reading needs.

The monthly supper at the Embden Community Center will be held on Saturday, July 8, at 5 p.m.

There are many public meals being offered in North Anson during the month of July. Every year the North Anson Congregational Church does a public breakfast every Saturday morning from 7 – 10 a.m.,; this year the dates are July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

The North Anson Methodist Church is having their baked bean, casserole and salad suppers on the following dates at 5 p.m. June 24, July 22, and July 29.

My thanks to all who sent me the news to share with all of you.

The other good news was the Solon School News which started out with, “Best Wishes to Fifth Graders.” We want to extend our best wishes and good luck to our fifth grade students who will enter sixth grade at Carrabec Community School in the fall.

The students attended a Step-Up-Day activity at CCS on June 6 with the other fifth graders from across the district. They met their teachers, saw the school, and did some team-building activities run by the high school’s JMG students.

“We will miss our fifth graders. We wish them the best of luck in the next step of their educational journey. Goodbye and Good luck to Emily Baker, Tehya Caplin, Jayden Cates, Dusty Corson, Sarah Craig, Cooper Dellarma, Sascha Evans, Reid Golden, Levi Hills, Nevaeh Holmes, Elisha Ireland, William Lawrence, Summer Lindblom, Jackson Pease, Alyssa Schinzel, Lucas Vicneire, Hailey Wyman and Dystany Young.

“The Solon Masons sponsored the second annual Bikes for Books program in the Solon Elementary School this spring. This program promotes reading among the K – 5 students. The program kicked off on April 24. Students read books and filled out a form on each book they read, putting the forms in large envelopes in their classrooms. On June 7, an assembly was held to do a drawing for a boy and a girl from each class. Each of those students won a new bike, helmet, and T-shirt provided by the Masons.

“At the assembly, Deputy Mike Pike went over bike safety with the students, especially the importance of wearing a bike helmet every time you ride.

“The students did a lot of reading in this second year of this great program. The total for the K through 5 readers was 410 books. Congratulation to these bike winners and the top readers in each class who received $ 15 Walmart gift cards.

“We appreciate the support of a community organization like the Masons to promote reading and fitness with our students.

“The winners were K students Maxx Caplin and Charlotte Hamilton; Grade 1, Amelia Cooper and Colton Enos; Grade 2 Riley Pelkey and Brice Agren; Grade 3 Macie Ploude and Aaron Soosman; Grade 4,Ciara Myers-Sleeper and Nick Wildes and Grade 5, Elisha Ireland and Dusty Corson. The Top Readers were David Dixon, Karen Baker, Charlotte Hamilton, Ciarrah Whiiemore, Delena Cabral, Amelia Cooper, Jayden Cates, and Dystany Young.”

And now for Percy’s memoir entitled: Love’s Laughter. “There is a place within each of us from which laughter springs. I think it must be somewhere awfully close to the heart. The thrill that leads us to laugh is surely connected to that which leads us to love. Each is as intertwined with the other as music and dance or prayer and devotion. Whether brought on by the candid honesty of a child or the wit of a sweetheart, laughter expresses love and appreciation for that person. And as it bubbles from within and rises to the surface, laughter becomes a manifestation of love.” How very true!