SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 21, 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 Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, December 9, for their annual Christmas Party with all 12 members, three leaders and five visitors in attendance.

Items were collected for the Somerset Human Society as one of the clubs community projects.

The members made two Christmas items as a craft project. These can be used to exhibit at the fairs next fall.

An exchange of gifts was held and snacks and drinks was enjoyed.

The next meeting will be held on Saturday, January 13, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station.

The Solon PTO sponsored a special Children’s Shopping Day on December 14. Students were able to shop for inexpensive gifts for their families at a “store” set up by the PTO. Thanks to parents who have donated items for this activity.

New Awards Programs: At the end of each quarter, they present honor roll awards to students in grades 3-5 who made the honor roll or the high honor roll for the previous quarter. This year they have added two new awards programs.

One new awards program is Attendance Awards. Students who had no more than one absence or one tardy during the previous quarter will receive an Excellent Attendance certificate and pencil at the assembly.

The second new awards program is the Core Values Awards. RSU #74 developed Core Values for the district a number of years ago. They decided to emphasize those core values, choosing one to be the focus for a month. At the end of the month each teacher will choose one or two students who have embodied that core value in the last month. Those students will receive certificates at the assembly. These are the Core Values: Responsibility, Respect, Honesty, Compassion and Tolerance.

The new superintendent of schools, Mike Tracy, joined the kindergarten class for Thanksgiving dinner on November 16 and read the students a Thanksgiving story. He also read a Christmas story to the students on December 20.

Now for an up-date on nomination papers that have been taken out since last weeks paper: For Selectman/Assessor/Overseer of the Poor (3 year term) James Farley and Keith Gallagher. Gary Bishop for Road Commission. Leslie A. Giroux has taken out papers for Town Clerk/Tax Collector (1 year term) and Robert Lindblom Sr. has taken out papers for RSU #74 School Board Member (3 year term).

And now for Percy’s memoir: This week it is taken from a little book called, “Good Advice for a Happy Life!” If I was asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, “I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.” Then repeat to yourself the most comforting words, “This too shall pass.” Maintaining self-respect in the face of a devastating experience is of prime importance.

 

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 14, 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!

Would like to inform all of you that the town meeting is coming up and that nomination papers are available at the Solon Town Office. The following positions are elected during the annual town meeting on March 3, 2018. Qualifying signatures must come from registered voters in the town of Solon. All nomination papers must be returned to the town clerk by the end of business day, January 3,2018.

Selectman/Assessor/Overseer of the Poor, 2018-2021 (3 years) vacant as of March 3, 2018 (current selectman not running for re-election). Road Commissioner 2018-2019 ( 1 year ) vacant as of March 3, 2018 ( current commissioner not running for re-election), town clerk/tax collector 2018-2021, school board member 2018-2021 ( 3 year term ). Please see the clerk during business hours to receive a nomination paper.

Direct Hire Opportunities: Public Works Laborer (with class B license) See Selectmen or Road Commissioner for application and more information.

Listing of candidates who have taken out a nomination paper for Election (to date). Selectman/Assessor of the Poor, Craig Gerry and Gaye Erskine. Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Leslie Robert Lindblom Sr.

Last night I got pretty upset when this machine failed to cooperate with me, and I called Peter to see if he could fix the problem! We made a date of 8 a.m., this morning, and he came down and performed one of his miracles, and now I am hurriedly typing this column! Really wanted all of you who read this column to know about the nomination papers being out, in case you should want to run for one of the positions listed above. Sorry, but this will be a short column because we have another engagement.

Received this note and a card from one of my un-none friends, back in November, 2015: “So sorry to hear about Percy. I will miss his words of wisdom, but I’m sure you will miss him much more. I am a cat lover and have had several very special cats so I understand what you are feeling. Know that he had a good life and was loved by people that never met him. Enjoy all of your wonderful memories. Margaret, A reader from Massachusetts. (I hope this friend who I have never met is still getting The Town Line, and enjoys Percy’s memoirs also.

And so for Percy’s memoir: “Laughing stirs up the blood, expands the chest, electrifies the nerves, clears away the cobwebs from the brain, and gives the whole system a cleansing rehabilitation. Anonymous.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 7, 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 L.C. Bates Museum, in Hinckley, has received a grant which is benefiting students at Solon Elementary School this fall. Elizabeth Comstock of the museum staff visited the school once a week for six weeks to present natural history outreach programs to students in second and fourth grades. Topics for these presentations were wetland habitat, forest habitat, ocean habitat, Maine birds, bugs, and pollination.

The L.C. Bates Museum and the Colby College Museum of Art invited the school’s second and third graders to participate in a “Bird Day” on October 24. Then they went to the Colby College Museum of Art where they took a “nature walk” through the museum galleries, compared and drew bird bills, feet, and feathers in the Audubon exhibit, The grant paid the cost of the bussing, the museum programs, and lunch for the students, staff, and chaperones.

Lief and I attended the seventh annual Christmas Program, (along with a large crowd, even though I neglected to write that it was going to be held at the North Anson Congregational Church).

The audience was invited to sing several of the old familiar Christmas hymns, followed by a special Christmas Pageant Mary Walz organized this event and in mind, anyway, it was a great success!

Lief and I were blessed with two Thanksgivings this year. We were invited over to Andrew and Ashley Higgins’ home, in Skowhegan, on the weekend that Dean and Cheryl were here from Georgia. Others present were Cynthia and Allen Fitzmaurice, Hailey, Aaron and Jessica.

Received an e-mail recently about the Embden Historical Society having the following items for sale: “Embden Town of Yore,” they have recently reduced the price from $60 to $40, plus shipping if necessary. “South of Lost Nation,” $20 plus shipping if necessary. An Embden afghan which has been reduced from $50 to $25 plus shipping.

And so for Percy’s memoir, which is a great one! “Faith Is A Mighty Fortress.”

We look ahead through each changing year
With mixed emotions of Hope and Fear,
Hope for The Peace we long have sought,
Fear that Our Hopes will come to naught…
Unwilling to trust in the Father’s Will,
We count on our logic and shallow skill
And in our arrogance and pride,
Man is no longer satisfied
To place his confidence and love
With Childlike Faith in God above…
But tiny hands and tousled heads
That kneel in prayer by little beds
Are closer to the dear Lord’s heart
And of His Kingdom more a part
Than we who search and never find
The answers to our questioning mind,
For faith in things we cannot see
Requires a child’s simplicity…
Oh, Father, grant once more to men
A simple Childlike Faith again,
Forgetting Color, Race and Creed
And seeing only the heart’s deep need…
For Faith alone can save man’s soul
And lead him to a Higher Goal,
For there’s but one unfailing course
We win by Faith and Not by Force.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of November 30, 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!

This week I’m going to start out with some great news….we have a few birds coming back to our bird feeders! It is mostly blue jays, who tend to scare off the smaller birds, but we have seen a pair of cardinals a few times. There are a few brave little chickadees who show up after the blue jays get filled up, and it seems so good to have them all back at last.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, it is so much fun to see and visit with those who live so far away, and those near-by as well.

Peter and Sherry hosted my family’s Thanksgiving at their home on the River Road, in Solon, as they have done for years. There were over 30 in attendance but as always, there was an abundance of wonderful food, much laughter and love to share. To show how popular this is every year, Mark and Karen drive up from Florida, then after the luscious dinner, fun and game they head back to warmer weather that night. I am always happy when I receive the call saying they reached home safely.

Every year Peter and Sherry dream up and decorate their home for the festivities, this year the theme was poker and the decorations were spectacular! For several years now the event has been held in their garage because of the many family members attending. When they built the garage they put a good heating system out there and so it was cozy and warm with two long tables set for the dinner. Around the room there were sections set up for the games later, they try to arrange it so there aren’t any two from the same household on each of the four teams, (I think they thought there was some hanky panky because Lief and I wound up on the same team, but we didn’t tell.) The last game was when a member of each team sat down to play a game of poker. The members of the team I was on practically dragged me to the table where the game was to be played, with me protesting all the way. I had played a little poker in my younger days, but had forgotten it, until I drew a card which even I could see was a really bad one, and was about to throw my cards down, when I looked up at my advisor (Ben, and he is good at bluffing, and we won the game!)

A festive evening with the Liberty String Band, hosted by the Solon Congregational Church, will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Admission by donation.

Next Sunday, December 3, at 4 p.m., the 7th annual Christmas Program; this includes a Christmas pageant by the Sunday School, skits and readings, special music and carol singing. There will also be light refreshments after the program. Hope you can attend and let your friends, family and neighbors know about this opportunity to capture the Christmas spirit. (I know I shouldn’t brag, but my daughter, Mary Walz, puts a lot of love and time into this annual event, and I really think the Christmas spirit should be able to be caught there.)

Over night guests of ours recently were Lief’s son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Cheryl Bull, from Georgia. We really enjoyed their visit and wish we lived nearer together.

My apologies for the fact that I was really long winded when writing about the annual Thanksgiving family get-together at Peter and Sherry’s. There will be more Thanksgiving news to share with you next week. Hope more of you will want to share your family Thanksgiving also. Thanks.

And so for Percy’s memoir: “Do something today to bring gladness To someone whose pleasures are few. Do something to drive off sadness – Or cause someone’s dream to come true. Find time for a neighborly greeting And time to delight an old friend; Remember, – the years are fleeting And it’s latest day will soon end! Do something today that tomorrow Will prove to be really worth while; Help someone to conquer sorrow And greet the new dawn with a smile – For only through kindness and giving Of service and friendship and cheer, We learn the pure joy of living And find heaven’s happiness here.”

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of November 23, 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!

More Solon School News: The Solon Kids CARE (character, actions, respect, empathy) Club has begun its work in the Solon School again this fall. An affiliate of the Maine Civil Rights Team Project, it is dedicating its efforts to encouraging in the students the ideas of random acts of kindness, positive attitudes and caring for the small community.

The team advisers are Mrs. LaChance and Mrs. Stevens. Mrs. LaChance organizes activities for all of the K-2 students. Mrs. Stevens works with a team of students in grades 4-5 who will organize activities for the school. These are the members this year: Desmond Robinson, Ciara Myers-Sleeper, Ciarrah Whittemore, Cailan Priest, Allison Pinkam, Karen Baker, Ella McKinnon, Macie Plourde, William Rogers, Madyson McKenney and Alden LcLaughlin.

The Kids Care Club is already hard at work! They ran a Halloween Dime Raffle in which they raised money to be used for T-shirts and for other team activities. On November 28, some members of the group will attend the annual Civil Rights Team Conference at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Dime Raffle Winners: Sponsored by the Solon Kids Care Club were Caden Fitton for the boy’s prize, Paige Reichert for the girl’s prize, and the fifth grade for the class prize (won by Paige Reichert).

On October 20, the Solon Fire Department visited the Solon School to do presentations about fire safety in conjunction with Fire Safety Month. Firemen Todd Dixon and Richard Kelly, of the Solon Fire Department, talked to students about how to keep safe in the event of a fire. The firefighters took the students outside to show them their new fire truck and to demonstrate how fire hoses work. The firefighters brought goodie bags for the students.

Home Alone on Thanksgiving Day? Veterans? Just need a good, hearty meal? Come join us at the Community United Methodist Church for Thanksgiving dinner! No charge. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, at the North Anson Community United Church Community Room (disabled accessible) Doors open at 10 a.m., with refresments, games and conversation. Full Thanksgiving dinner served at 2 p.m.

Limited transportation is available to the North Anson, Embden, Madison, New Portland and Solon communities. Call Betsy at 431-5860 by Tuesday, November 21, for pick up reservations, dependent on weather conditions. Sponsored by the Community United Methodist Church of north Anson/Madison Congregation.

Jen Hibbard is hosting a craft fair on November 25, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. This event will be held at the Embden Community Center, with a bake sale, raffles, hot foods, with over 30 tables of crafters, vendors and artisans.

Skowhegan-area merchants will be celebrating Small Business Saturday on November 25. The downtown will be hopping with all sorts of discounts and specials. Pick up your Shop Small passport at any participating merchant, have it stamped everywhere you shop, and then drop it off for a chance to win the grand prize! It’s another way for us to say “Thank You” to all you that help support locally-owned businesses.

And now for Percy’s words of wisdom in his weekly memoir: If you approach each new person you meet in a spirit of adventure, you will find yourself endlessly fascinated by the new channels of thought and experience and personality that you encounter. I do not mean simply the famous people of the world, but people from every walk and condition of life. (words by Eleanor Roosevelt)

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of November 16, 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 Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on November 11 for their second meeting of the new year. The members voted to adopt a family for Christmas. They also voted to bring items for the Skowhegan Animal Shelter to the December meeting. These would be community projects for next year.

Officers elected were; Cooper Dellarma, president; Hunter Souce, vice president; Laci Dickey, secretary; Desmond Robinson, assistant secretary; Devyn Deleonardis, treasurer; Jillian Robinson, assistant treasurer; Brooks Souce and Sarah Craig, flag bearers; and Macy Plourde and Autumn Ladd, assistant flag bearers.

The members are planning to have a Christmas Party at their December meeting

Leaders Lois Miller and Hallie Dellarma worked with the members making holiday wreaths.

Several members are planning to attend a Swag making workshop in Skowhegan on November 18.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, December 9, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station.

Recently, the annual Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club Family Supper was held at the Masonic Hall, in Solon, with many parents and members present, Lief and I were invited as honored guests. There were many wonderful choices at the buffet table and Lief and I were invited to start the line. It was such a warm and welcoming feeling to be included in this family affair.

Leader Eleanor Pooler passed out awards. The Solon Pine Tree Club received the Outstanding Club Award again this year.

Leaders who have been with this club the longest are Eleanor Pooler with 56 years, Rance Pooler for 46 years and Doris Dean for 35 years. My congratulations go out to them! And, my many thanks for always including me for the Family Supper.

Was very pleased to receive an e-mail from the Solon Municipal Clerk and Tax Collector’s Office with news to share about the recent voting on November 7. There was a total of 267 voters who got out that day. Question #1…45 Yes, 220 No and 2 Blank. Question #2…135 Yes, 130 No and 2 blank; Question #3, 169 Yes, 96 No and 2 blank and Question #4…135 Yes, 125 No and 7 blank.

Another great craft fair coming up this week is at the Redington-Fairview General Hospital Main and MOB lobbies, at 46 Fairview Avenue, in Skowhegan on Friday, November 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Homemade crafts & goodies sponsored by the RFGH Auxiliary .

On October 18, Heidi Coffin from the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness visited the Solon Elementary School to offer free programs for students in grades 1-5.

The Cromwell Center is a Maine nonprofit agency who offers disabilities awareness programs to build sensitivity and understanding, reduce bullying, and help create more inclusive schools and communities. The students learned that we all have strengths and challenges, that having a disability doesn’t define a person, and that they can help put an end to bullying of those with special needs.

The Solon School is having a Thanksgiving Food Drive November 6-17. Please send in donations of nonperishable food items to help the students in this community service project. Food will be donated to the Solon Thrift Shop Food Cupboard. This is sponsored by the Solon Kids Care Club.

On September 19 and October 4, Solon students and staff participated in the Walking School Bus Program. This activity is part of the school wellness plan.

Thanksgiving break at Solon Elementary will b November 22-26.

On November 18, from 5 – 7 p.m., Huntah’s Suppah at the Wellington VFW, 9 Parkman Rd., in Wellington. All you can eat! By donation To benefit the Wellington Church and Wellington Fire Department.

And now for Percy’s memoir, entitled The Way: A loving word, A cheerful smile, A kindly thought or two… A helping hand, A ready step, They help, my friend, they do. A patient heart, A thoughtful deed, A willingness to cheer… An endless day Of service, friend, These things make life most dear. Be kind, do good, Have loving thoughts Throughout the livelong day, Think right, serve God, Be friend to all, And you have found The Way! (words by Esther Nilsson).

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of November 9, 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!

Want to thank Roland for his very good column entitled, “Where have all the birds gone?” We, along with many others, have been concerned about the total disappearance of all the birds this summer. Have missed watching the many different kinds at our bird feeders and then they just up and stopped showing up at all! Then this last week a few chickadees, ( which are my favorites) arrived and I was so happy to welcome them back.

The Solon Congregational Church Holiday Craft Fair is coming right up on Saturday, November 11, at the Solon Elementary School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This craft fair has been growing each year and there are many great crafters and vendors again this year. There will be Scentsy, Lula Rue Clothing, wood crafts, hand made crafts by Rachel Danner, Alpaca goods, great crafts and food made by Patty LeHay, candles, knitted crafts, just to name a few! There will be the popular Kid’s Holiday Shopping room, where they can shop for items for family members for under $1 and have help wrapping it up, all by themselves, no adults allowed! Another popular thing that has been expanded is the Basket Raffle, where there will be 15-plus themed baskets to buy chances on, some of the themes are Family Game Night, Pets, Thanksgiving Dinner, Tail Gate Party, Christmas themed, Movie Night, Boy and Girl themed, etc.

As usual the kitchen will be open for breakfast and lunch, with yummy selections and the bake table! Hope you plan to check us out! It sounds like a great fair as always.

The Embden Thrift Shop will be having a bag sale on all pants (women, men and children) this week (Wed., Fri., and Sat.,) 10 to 3.

Don’t forget the Annual Anson-North Anson Snowmobile Club Craft Fair this Saturday, November 4, at the Carrabec High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is always a great one also, I always look forward to visiting with friends there.

And yet another annual event is also coming up on November 11 at The North Anson Congregational Church, the Holly Shoppe! This will take place from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. There will be candy, jewelry, baked goods, knives, gifts, cookie walk and St. Nick’s Christmas Shop. Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Was happy to receive a letter from the Somerset Public Health stating that Madison has started a Madison Mug Up! This is a social gathering which will be held at the American Legion Post #39 on the third Thursday of every month. All are welcome. Stay a minute or all morning. Learn about winter preparedness, Share your skills, experience and knowledge, Shoot pool, do crafts or puzzles, play cards or games, coffee, snacks and chat, make a friend, celebrate holidays and more.

Upcoming Socials: Thursday, Dec. 21, Time 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Place: American Legion, 20 S. Maple Street, Madison, ME 04950. For more information call: 474-7473.

The following wise words are some that Percy used back on June 23, 2011: this is entitled Reach Out with Love: Reach out with love it’s here to stay, Generously share it every day. Each one of us has much to give, If only we can learn to live. For every thought and word and deed, To make it worthwhile it’s love we need. And when we feel that love is shown, We speak a language all its own! To make impressions wealth is spent, But to reach out with love doesn’t cost a cant! (words by Hedwig Wroblewski.)

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 26, 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!

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club reorganized for a new year on Saturday, October 14, at the Solon Fire Station with 12 members. Plans were made to attend County Achievement Night on October 27 at Kennebec Valley Grange Hall, in Madison.

Plans were also made to hold a family supper on Friday, November 3, at the Solon Masonic Hall.

For a fun activity the members painted pumpkins that were donated by the Seavey Farm, in North Anson.

They also made Nature Frames using silk from milkweed pods, different kinds of leaves and flowers.

After the meeting the members enjoyed apple cider.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, November 11, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station..

My many thanks to Eleanor Pooler, the leader of the Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club for always sharing their interesting meetings with us. It is always greatly appreciated. And many thanks also, to Eleanor, for her devotion to leading this great club!

I was very glad to receive an e-mail(which had been written while we were in Rangeley) so wasn’t able to get it in in time for the supper) My many thanks to Aryke Coombs for the e-mail that said, “We had our annual roadside cleanup on the morning of Saturday, September 30. We also have a spaghetti dnner and Luck of the Draw coming up on Saturday, October 28. There will be a door prize, the dinner, a Luck of the Draw, and a lot of fun to be had. Our local heroes, the members of our Solon Fire Dept., will be the waiters and waitress. The dinner and Luck of the Draw will be from 4 – 7 pm at the Solon Elementary School. The above was done by the Solon Fire Auxiliary. I was very happy to see the above e-mail to share with our friends, I have stressed before how much I would like to have news of what is being done.

We had a wonderfully relaxing week at the Rangeley Lakes Resort, it is a very nice peaceful place for a vacation. This year we were happy to have several visitors. Lief’s sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Elwood Ellis, of China Village, came up to see us one day. My brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Insowa Jones and their dog Wekow, came up from Farmington and spent Tuesday night with us, then we drove over to New Hampshire on Wednesday. (I could not get used to the fact that you don’t have to pay a sales tax over there, it was great!) On Friday, my daughter Mary and son-in-law Dave Walz came for a visit and we ate at the Red Onion. We were so happy to have visitors and…. we also had four-legged friendly visitors! One evening we arrived back to our cabin and there were two friendly deer waiting for us right on the lawn near the porch. They stayed around and visited for awhile, then slowly meandered off into the trees. Another day a deer came out on the road that leads to the main highway and walked along slowly ahead of us as if he was showing us how to get to the main road.

Another day, we were doing a little shopping across from the Red Onion and heard some one over at the outside eating area call out, “Hey, Lief,” and we looked, and it was Ronnie Brown and several of his ATV friends having lunch there. We went over and talked with them for awhile.

And now for Percy’s memoir on Love: “Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.” (Unknown) and a question by Benjamin Franklin; “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life and love is made of.”

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 19, 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!

This column is being written early because we are going on our yearly vacation in Rangeley. Have been thinking seriously lately about the definite need for PEACE in our troubled world!… and so, hoping to get some of you, who read this column each week, to think about being a peacemaker.

Confucius had some wise words on how to start: Peace in this world: “When things are investigated, then true knowledge is achieved, when true knowledge is achieved then the will becomes sincere, then the heart is set right (or then the mind sees right); when the heart is set right, then the personal life is cultivated, then the family life is regulated; when the family life is regulated, then the national life is orderly, then there is peace in this world.”

Make Peace: As citizens, we have a large responsibility . Our daily lives,, the way we drink, what we eat, have to do with the world’s political situation, Every day we do things, we are things, that have to do with peace. If we are aware of our lifestyle, our way of consuming, of looking at things, we will know how to make peace right in the moment we are alive. (words by Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step).

Eleanor Roosevelt had some good advise back in her time; The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world. “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Christ, some of the other great Jewish teachers, Buddha, all preached it. Their followers forgot it. What is the trouble between capital and labor, what is the trouble in many of our communities, but rather a universal forgetting that this teaching is one of our first obligations.

And now some thoughts from President John F. Kennedy: Building Peace: “But peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper, let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace, a willingness to work for peace, in the hearts and minds of all of our people. I believe that we can. I believe the problems of human destiny are not beyond the reach of human beings.”

More thoughts from people in the past longing for peace in our world, President Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Lasting Peace, I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of the way and let them have it.”

Become a Peacemaker: Each day you are provided many opportunities to practice peacemaking. St. Francis wrote. “For it is in giving that we receive.” By giving peace you will receive peace, and after you are at peace, your problems all dissolve . By becoming a peacemaker you are literally providing yourself with a remedy for all your anxious moments. Today be on the alert for any opportunity to become a peacemaker. Words by Wayne W. Dyer, There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem.)

I really like this one by Abraham Lincoln for his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865. “With malice toward none, with charity for all…let us strive on to finish the work we are in…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

I am going to use two of Percy’s memoirs in this column because he truly believed in peace! (Working Together: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much, words by Helen Keller.)

And…”Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.” Words by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, 20th-century songwriters.

There I go, dreaming again! I was afraid that would happen after the fact that this column and little paper reached out and reunited two brothers after 50 years….But amazing things happen, and wouldn’t it be great if the above words inspire some of you to become peacemakers and help to settle the mess this world is in? I shall pray on it!

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 12, 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!

Legos Time will be Saturday, October 14, from 10 a.m.- noon, at Stewart Public Library, 37 Elm St., North Anson. Regular library hours will be 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. that same day.

The Embden Community Center will be serving chicken cordon bleu at there monthly public supper on Saturday, October 14, at 5 p.m.

On October 21, Steve & The Good Ole Boys band will be playing at the Embden Community Center from 7 – 11 p.m.

There were at least 125 motorcycle riders at the Solon Hotel on a perfect, beautiful fall day recently who were all going for a ride in this event. This is the 23rd year that it has taken place starting at the Solon Hotel. A spaghetti supper would be served to those who were hungry after their ride. Eleanor Maclean was making her famous recipe of spaghetti, which she has done for many years, and is now still doing it at 88!

Somerset Woods Trustees and Brian Alexander are still at it! Two more work days have been scheduled to complete Phase 1 of the new Coburn Woods Trails before their grand opening, scheduled for October 29. (Put that date on your calendar too!)

On the e-mail that I received it tells of two working days, Oct. 7 and Oct. 15. for those Eager for Exercise Before the Snow Falls? No tools are necessary as Brian has plenty but if you have a favorite trail cutting tool please do bring it. Starting time is 8:30 a.m., work until 1 p.m., or as long as you have to work.

We appreciate your help to build these trails! Once all phases are completed they will have around six miles of trails for all users, including mountain bikes.

I know how much many of you love Percy’s memoirs and before that, his wise words of wisdom! And so in memory of Percy who died two years ago, I am going to share especially those of you who are ‘Cat Lovers’ with some information on cats. Some of this information comes from a little three-inch square book that I bought at a yard sale, and in the introduction it states, “No wonder the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats as gods – is there an animal with more dignity, more aloof serenity, and innate grandeur? What other domestic creature behaves like an honored guest and is treated as an equal?”

Cats fix us with their gaze and put us in our place. They beguile us with their startling affection and charm us with the beauty of their fluid bodies. They amaze us with their composure and delight us with their agility.

Cats do as they please, and for that we admire – and even revere them. They treat us as companions, demanding and receiving our respect as their due. The fact that they choose to spend their lives with us is a gift we accept gratefully.

Now for a few of the quotes in this little delightful book in memory of Percy! “His friendship is not easily won but it is something worth having” – words by Michael Joseph, English publisher; and by Lilian Jackson Braun, American writer – “To understand a cat, you must realize that he has his own gifts, his own viewpoint, even his own morality.”

One by Mark Twain says, “One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.” And by Jim Dais, American cartoonist – “Way down deep we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.” I like this one from Abraham Lincoln – “No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.”

And so I will close with this one which was anonymous – “No self-respecting cat wants to be an artist’s model.” (I didn’t find that to be true, Percy let me paint him several times!)