American Legion celebrates 101 years

Front row, holding the cake is Robert Demchak, Post #39 Commander. Second row, from left to right, Vincent Santoni, Gene Dube and Ron Page. Third row, John Ziacoma, Aaron Rollins, John Bryant, Gene Tweedie, Ted Misiaszek, Joe Jenks, Joe Slavinski and Dan Houssock. Back row, Eric Fluet, Curt Sanborn, Ray Cloutier and Scott Eggleston. (contributed photo)

March 15, 2020 is the American Legion’s 101st birthday, founded in 1919. Members of Tardiff-Belanger Post #39, Madison, celebrated the Legion’s birthday with cake and ice cream prior to their monthly membership meeting on March 2. Any veteran who would like to join Tardiff-Belanger Post #39 Madison, call 696-5848, email post39@beeline-online.net or visit the web site at: mainelegionpost39.org. For more information on the American Legion of Maine visit www.mainelegion.org.

Sumo wrestling champion 2019

Huard’s Martial Arts student Preston Schneider, of Madison, captured the eight-year-old sumo wrestling championship title at the Maine Skirmish Grappling Tournament held on November 10, at Winslow High School. (Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

Madison legion celebrates 100 years

Pictured, from left, are veterans Nunzio Biodello, Ray Soucy and Clara Gilbert. Absent from the photo was Ivan Hoyt. (contributed photo)

The Tardiff-Belanger American Legion Post #39, of Madison, and Auxiliary, will be celebrating their 100th birthday. Both groups were represented on floats at the Madison/Anson Days parade on August 24. The legion’s float had three World War II veterans from the local area riding on it.

URI students named to the spring 2019 dean’s list

The University of Rhode Island, in Kingston, Rhode Island, is pleased to announce the Spring 2019 dean’s list. The students represent nearly all of Rhode Island’s cities and towns, all six New England states, New York and New Jersey, and many other states and countries.

The students are Alexandria Jarvais, of Madison, and Kristy Prelgovisk, of Oakland.

Memorial Day parades 2019

MADISON

Mon., May 27, starting 10 a.m. Line-up 9 a.m. at Garret Schenck School, in Anson. Memorial Day ceremony is also scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Joseph Quirion Monument in East Madison; at 2 p.m. at the Starks Community Center, and at 3 p.m. at Madison VFW on Preble Ave.

PALERMO

Mon., May 27, Malcolm Glidden American Legion Post #163 will hold a Memorial Service at the Veterans Park on Turner Ridge Rd., at 9 a.m. Palermo Boy Scout Troop will participate. Refreshments will be available, following the ceremony at the post home.

SKOWHEGAN

Mon., May 27, 10 a.m. Line-up begins at 9:15 a.m. on Dyer St. Parade route begins at intersection of Dyer St. and Madison Ave., and turns left heading south towards downtown, then left onto Water St. and travel through downtown ending at Skowhegan Veterans Park. Dedication at the park will follow.

WATERVILLE

Mon., May 27, 10 a.m. to noon. Parade assembles at 9 a.m., at Head of Falls and ends at Veterans Memorial Park on Elm St.

Is your town planning a Memorial Day parade? Please notify us so you can be included in our Memorial Day parade directory, email townline@fairpoint.net or visit our Contact page.

Cub Scout Pack #482 raising funds for Boston Children’s Museum trip

Cub Scout Pack 482 at the Skowhegan Fire Station. (photo: Pack 482 Facebook page)

Cub Scout Pack #482, in the Anson/Madison area, has been selected to do a sleepover at the Boston Children’s Museum at the beginning of April vacation. They are presently raising money by having bottle drives, as well as other fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe page.

All money raised will go towards chartering a bus that will bring the 12 scouts and their 13 family members to Boston for a trip they will never forget.

Donations may be made by contacting Christina Nelson, at 207-431-1177.

Many of the families going on could use the financial assistance.

Madison woman joins Sen. Collins staff

Kristin Bishop, left, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), at the announcement of the hiring of Bishop to the senator’s staff. (Contributed photo)

U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that Kristin Bishop, a Madison native, has been hired as a staff assistant in her Washington, D.C., office. Kristin recently completed her fall internship in Senator Collins’ D.C. office and also served as a summer intern in her D.C. and Augusta offices. Kristin is the daughter of Frank and Vanessa Bishop of Madison.

“Kristin displayed a strong work ethic as a fall and summer intern and has an impressive record of achievement,” said Senator Collins. “I am delighted that she will continue to serve Mainers as a member of my staff in Washington, D.C.”

Kristin graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Bowdoin College in May 2018 with a degree in Government & Legal Studies and Education. While in college, Kristin was an active leader in community service organizations focusing on education and public service. As a staff assistant, Kristin will be assisting with front office duties and fielding constituent requests.

 

 

Madison Legion Auxiliary support community

From left to right, Madison American Legion Auxiliary members Robin Turek, Shirley Emery, Betty Dow, Ann Cody, Harriet Bryant, Tena Ireland and Sharon Ziacoma. (Contributed photo)

The Madison American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #39 supports community programs such as children and youth. Each year the members of the auxiliary donate school backpacks filled with school supplies and distributes them to four local schools in Madison and Anson area. This year they donated a total of 20 school backpacks.

American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for nearly a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of nearly $2 billion. As part of the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. To learn more about the auxiliary’s mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org or contact: Robin Turek, president – American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39, PO Box 325, Madison, ME – robinturek@gmail.com – 696-8289.

Springfield College recognizes dean’s list students

Springfield College, in Springfield, Massachusetts, named the following local students to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the spring 2018 term.

Christopher Hayden, of Madison, studying applied exercise science.

Ryan Pellerin, of Albion, studying sport management

SOLON & BEYOND: Solon budget committee begins process

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

The Solon Budget Committee meeting was held at the Municipal building on Saturday, January 20, with the following in attendance: Ann Padham, Bruce Hills, Frank Ridley, Barbara Johnstone, Eleanor Pooler, Carol White, Donald Kenerson, George Williams, Albert Starbird, Allen Foss, Joseph Albuit, Jeff Pomelow, Lois Miller and Gaye Erskin . Selectmen, Elaine Aloes, Mary Lou Ridley and Sarah Davis; Treasurer, Sharon Begin; Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Leslie Giroux, Road Commissioner, Mike Foster, Fire Chief, Duayne Rollins. Others there were Keith Galleger, who is running for the selectman position in March and Lief and I.

A meeting of the Coolidge Library Trustees meeting was held at the library on January 18 with the following in attendance: Librarian, Megan Myers, Richard Roberts, Mary Farrar, Jane Ouderkirk, Allen Foss, Lief Bull, and Diane Trussell.

Megan passed out copies of her report and answered questions. The School Bookmark Contest continues to be popular. The winning submission is chosen from each class (Pre K-5) at Solon Elementary School. Megan was this year’s judge, along with the district art teacher.

The annual Summer Reading Program ran June 29 – August 10. This year’s activities were assisted by a local teen volunteer. During the program, Build a Better World, she focused on books and activities that promoted science, engineering, arts and community awareness. There was a small but consistent attendance. Meals were again available to all children and teens from the school’s Summer Meals Program.

Was pleased to receive an e-mail from Ferra Kelley about the following information: Once again, volunteer members of AARP will be preparing & filing Federal/State tax returns, free of charge, to senior and low income families in the area. The Crossroads Bible Church, 705 White School House Rd. Madison have again generously allowed us to work out of their premises, and we are taking appointments for Friday & Saturday mornings, beginning in February. Please do not make calls to the church directly, as they are not otherwise involved in the program. Call Ferra @ 643-2559 to schedule an appointment.

I’m glad that several of you liked the article on manners in this column last week, and as promised I will send more of them when space allows….but, we must leave space for Percy’s memoirs:

“It’s the little things we do and say
That means so much as we go our way.
A kindly deed can lift a load
From weary shoulders on the road.
Or a gentle word, like summer rain.
May soothe some heart and banish pain.
What joy or sadness often springs
From just the simple little things.”

This is from one of those little Salesian Inspirational Books, that I have collected for many years.