IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of February 9, 2017

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

OK, faithful readers, there’s an old saying about ‘what goes around comes around,’ and, frankly, as I sat in my chair in our kitchen in East Madison and reflected on the problems that were encompassing our USA because of immigration rules and regulations. I also decided to find out why the pile of papers in the corner of the top shelf of our bookcase had been kept. Yup, I made a discovery, WALLS!

I found a column entitled IF WALLS COULD TALK that had been written before The Town Line’s managing editor had called me about writing for The Town Line. You were writing for the extinct hometown newspaper, but, guess what? I learned that my Mémère Zelia Valliere and I were having a talk about my speaking French. Yes, she and my Great-Grandma Sarah would talk French to each other on the phone and I wanted to learn that language, but Mémère said, “No, you don’t want to learn to speak French……You speak English.” It seems I didn’t understand her reasoning until Skowhegan Junior High School and I learned in history class that the French were employed only after all the English-speaking immigrants had jobs.

So, WALLS, as you talk to our faithful readers, it is true today that what went around has come around again. It is true that immigration in those days was from our north, wherein, today, folks who love what they hear about our USA, want to live here. What’s more, many of those who want to immigrate to our USA have experienced unbelievable torture and loss because of the Middle East War.

WALLS, I know you aren’t taking a political stand here, but I do appreciate your being aware of what has happened in the world as we thought we knew it. This brings you back to your opening sentence, WALLS, that ‘what goes around, comes around.’ Probably our faithful readers haven’t thought how speaking our native English has possibly played into the equation. I never thought of it until finding the column in the corner of our bookcase.

Yes, yes….I do listen to the news and I did learn a few days ago, WALLS, that the development area for our famous “Valley” in California has many of other countries working there. In fact, our West Coast family tells us of their many friends from other countries……and many of them are from Asia.

WALLS, maybe we in Maine have lived a ‘protected life.’ You know that there’s been a sign at the ‘entrance to Maine’ that says “Welcome to Maine…..The Way Life Should Be.” Yes, WALLS, let’s make sure people ‘believe.’

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of February 9, 2017

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

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

As part of RSU #74’s participating in a Preschool Expansion Grant from the Maine Department of Education, they are forming a Community Literacy Team. With the increase in literacy demands for today’s job market, communities need to play a role in helping to promote and increase literacy skills in their citizens from birth to adulthood.

They are looking for community members who would like to be part of this team. Their plan is to meet once a month to create a literacy plan for the communities in RSU #74 to promote and expand literacy skills. Their activities need to include connections to early childhood, but they can also target people of all ages.

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Ms. Butler at school or through e-mail at jbutler@carrabec.org. (The above is from an e-mail I received from Solon Elementary School.

Now for another apology, this time to Bill and Lori Messer… Sometimes I am either rushing to meet my deadline, or I have used up too many words already in a column, anyway… Last week in writing about their wonderful Blue Grass Show I didn’t write that they have Open Mic nights the first, third and fifth Sundays of each month from 1 to 4 p.m.

Lief and I recently traveled to Bangor where we had lunch with a former teacher of his from the “County,” Sam Coco. It was a most enjoyable time, he is a wonderful example, that no mater how old you are life can be exciting! We have been getting together with him several times and I always look forward to our get-togethers. He is a remarkable man…and he always assures me that Lief was a good boy back then.

Again, I would like to invite any of you painters, (in water colors, oils, or other mediums) to join us at Skowhegan Adult Ed for painting on Monday nights, starting on February 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. My faithful students and I always welcome new comers to our group of happy artists. Although I am a hard task master who loves peace and the joy of painting so my wishes are that during the few hours we are painting there won’t be any discussions about politics or religion. Please don’t let that stipulation keep you away! Many of these artists have been with me since I started this adventure many years ago, and I am proud to call them friends. You can sign up now at the Skowhegan Adult Ed office or on line, the fee is only $5.

And now for Percy’s memoir, he was a great believer in friendship: Friendship’s Token: Only a little token, Offered for Friendship’s sake – Picture and song together, Here, my greeting, take. What though on brightest pictures Time’s hand at last be lain; What though earth’s songs awaken Only to sleep again?

Voices once loved ring ever In faithful listening ears: The sacred hand of Friendship Gleams through the mist of years. (words by Ellis Walton). And Friends, like all good things in this life, can be had by any one who wants them. There is only one simple rule to follow, it is this; To have a friend, be one yourself. (that one came from my old, falling apart book “Uncle Ben’s Quotebook”. Percy and I studied that book a lot in all our years of writing, it was copyrighted in 1976. )

You guessed it…. I’m rambling, I need real news, I’m waiting to hear from you!

Two local students on URI dean’s list

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The University of Rhode Island, in Kingston, Rhode Island, has announced the Fall 2016 dean’s list. The following students were named to the dean’s list with their area of study: Alexandria M. Jarvais, of Madison, majoring in Pharm D, and Rachel Cambridge Pratt, of Cornville, majoring in Kinesiology.

Agility: what skills do my dog and I really need?

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TRAINING YOUR PERFORMANCE DOGTRAINING YOUR PERFORMANCE DOG

by Carolyn Fuhrer

Handling systems, videos on foot work, and books on mental practice all can have a place in your agility training, but if you just want to enjoy the sport with your dog, work on building a solid basic foundation and relationship.

Your dog needs an introduction to agility equipment that is safe, sensible and will build your dog’s confidence. For this, you need a qualified instructor who can help you steadily progress and build your dog’s skills on equipment. Teaching your dog all the agility obstacles and the skills necessary to perform them will not get you very far on the course if you have no obedience background. Running a successful agility course with your dog requires that your dog takes direction from you and can switch from handler focus to obstacle focus and back again to the handler.

This requires a strong partnership with your dog. Agility trials are very stimulating. All your dog’s senses will be heightened by the surroundings. A good name recognition and recall is essential to performing agility to keep your dog off distractions and also to change your dog’s path and keep them on course.
I like to use the dog’s name to have them come into me. The best thing your dog should ever hear is his name and it should cause the dog to look towards you and move towards you. You can practice this as a fun game anywhere. It is essential for all dogs off leash, whether in agility or pet life, to have a strong recall.
A wait command is another essential obedience command. It is also another essential pet command. It will allow you to lead out in agility while still retaining your dog’s focus as he waits for a release.

Being able to tug with your dog in play and engage your dog with a toy in a distracting situation is also a valuable skill. Desire for a toy is a great training tool. It can help your dog focus. It is a great way to work on distance and sends. It is also a great way to teach self control. Your interaction with your dog and you, through playing with a toy, will reflect a great deal about your relationship with your dog. Much can be taught through interactive play. If you don’t have this with your dog, work on it. Some of us humans really need to learn how to play! If you are not a good player, get some help. Teach your dog to run with you by your leg on both sides – going faster when you accelerate and slower when you decelerate, leaving you when sent to an obstacle and returning to you on a pick up cue.

Many of these basic obedience skills can be worked on daily. No equipment necessary! Be creative – run with your dog and change direction, speed up, slow down, find unusual challenging situations where your dog must wait or come to you.

Enjoy building a strong foundation through everyday interaction with your dog – it is a wonderful investment.

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 90 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

Carrabec High School 2016-17 second quarter honor roll

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Grade 12

High honors: Avianna Boucher, Allyn Foss, Evan Gorr, Royce Pena, Samantha Taylor and Sara Taylor; Honors: Whitney Coro, Dustin Crawford, Taylor Cyrway, McKayla Gray, Paul Kaplan, Mariah Langton, Abigail Longley, Brooklynn Moore, Bobbie Peacock, Sophia Tsimekles and Emily Witham.

Grade 11

High honors:  Rhiannon Ambrose, Jacob Atwood, Bailey Dunphy, Samantha LeBeau, Katrina Mason and Sierra Turcotte; Honors: Kelsey Creamer, Kaitlin Dixon, Patrick Dube, Ariana-Lee Dunton, Mackenzie Edes, Daryl Foss, Courtney Fuller, Michael Hargreaves and Jackson Lawler-Sidell.

Grade 10

High honors:  Lilyana Aloes, Tristan Bachelder, Lillian Johnson and Sidney Small; Honors:  Lauren Chestnut, Lindsay Lesperance, Lauren Rafferty, Haley Taylor and Makayla Vicneire.

Grade 9

High honors:  Skylar Karr and Scott Mason; Honors:  Emily Avery, Cassidy Ayotte, Annika Carey, Jacob Copeland, Caitlin Crawford, Shay Cyrway, Dylan Leach and Abby Richardson.

Beane Mount Ida College announces fall 2016 dean’s list

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Eden Beane, a fashion merchandising and marketing major from Augusta, has been named to the Fall 2016 dean’s list at Mount Ida College, in Newton, Massachusetts, for achieving a GPA of 3.33 or higher.

China Middle School second quarter honors

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GRADE 8

Dean’s list: Madyx Kennedy. High honors: Jonathan Martinez, Courtney Paine and Acadia Senkbeil. Honors: Melana Huard, Annaliese Patterson, Eban Pierce and Chris Williams.

GRADE 7

Dean’s list: Samantha Golden and Mackenzie Roderick. High honors: Emily Clark, Emma Jefferson, Lili Lefebvre and Sarah Praul. Honors: Liberty Crockett, Jasmine Crommett, Colby Cunningham, Josette Gilman, Larissa Haskell, Madison Lully, Kaden McIntyre, Lorenzo Michaud and Hannah Torrey.

GRADE 6

Dean’s list: Breckon Davidson, Alivia Gower, Elizabeth Hardy, Beck Jorgensen, Lily Matthews, Hannah Patterson, Kayla Peaslee, Gabriel Pelletier, Samantha Reynolds and Noah Rushing. High honors: Eve Boatright, Nicole DeMerchant, Lilly Fredette, Reiana Gonzalez, Kaiden Kelley, Alexia Leigh, Kolby Maxim, Ethan Ouellette, Alexis Rancourt, Jaxson Roderick and Lauren Tyler. Honors: Abigail Beyor, Madeline Pacholski and Kaden Soto.

GRADE 5

Dean’s list: Isabella Boudreau and Brielle Crommett. High honors: Grayson Podey. Honors: Lacey Arp, Duncan Bailey, Braylin Bilodeau, Simon Clark, Gavin Cunningham, Keira Dechamps, Kaylee Fyfe, Stephanie Kumnick, Sydney Laird, Alexia McDonald, Danny McKinnis, Remy Pettingill, Ryan Tyler and Ava Wedge.

VBA offers scholarship

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The Vassalboro Business Association has announced that it will offer $500 scholarships to at least three Vassalboro students who plan to attend a Post-Secondary Program of Study in the fall of 2017.

Students must have been  residents in Vassalboro for the past two years, provide evidence of community service in that same two year period, and be enrolled in a post-secondary two to four year program of education or training.

Applications are available by emailing lindatitus@hotmail.com or calling 873-2108.  They should also be available in local guidance offices. The deadline to return the completed form is April 15, 2017.

Erskine Academy to host 8th grade open house

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All eighth grade students and their parents from the surrounding communities are invited to attend the Erskine Academy Eighth Grade Open House on Wednesday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. The administration strongly encourages all incoming freshmen and their parents to attend this event as registration materials will be available and information about the course selection process will be provided. In the case of inclement weather, a snow date of Thursday, March 2, has been set.

Parents who are unable to attend this event are asked to contact the Guidance Office at 445-2964 to request registration materials.

 

Oak Grove School Foundation offers grants

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The Oak Grove School Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support the education and cultural needs of students and non profit organizations in the greater Central Maine area.

Recipients must be educational, charitable or religious organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(30 Of the internal revenue service code.
Grant requests should be received by April 7, 2017. Funding decisions will be made in May and shortly after the funds will be distributed in July. Recent grants have ranged $500-$5,000. The OGSF has also provided seed money for initiatives that last up to three years.

Groups interested in obtaining application forms and guidelines should contact Joann Clark Austin, Oak Grove School Foundation, P.O. Box 150 South China, ME 04358-0150 or Susan Briggs at briggsusan@gmail.com.