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 met on April 8 with Michaela Marden presiding.

The members voted to do flowers for Mothers Day at the Solon Congregational Church. Several members are planning to attend to pass out the flowers.
The educational exhibit for Skowhegan Fair was discussed. The members decided to do it again this year.

Leader Hailey Dellarma and several members are planning to attend the “Luck of the Draw” being put on by the Somerset County Leaders Association on Saturday, May 6, at the American Legion Hall, on Route 201, in Skowhegan.

Michaela Marden, Cooper Dellarma, Hunter and Brook Souca gave demonstrations.

After the meeting, Linda French invited the club to visit the Solon Food Cupboard. She explained the days the food cupboard was open, how to apply and some of the items that are available.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, May 13, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station. A guest speaker is planning to come and make jewelry with members for Mothers Day.

The North Anson Congregational Church will be having a 6 a.m. Sunrise Service and breakfast at the church on April, 16, Easter Sunday. The regular worship service will start at 10 a.m.

Received the April letter from the New Hope Evangelical Free Church, in Solon, telling of the many things going on there for good such as, “Through a grant given to the shelter, we were able to install a new large generator that is a big necessity in Maine where the power is apt to go off in any storm. And we were able to have an entrance built around the front door to keep the snow from blowing in against it.”

Also in this letter, “One of the ‘pleasures’ of living in Maine is all the snow we get. Well, we have gotten a lot of ‘pleasure’ this year and along with it some broken trusses in the section of our lower church roof. Snow and ice fell off the upper roof and caused the trusses to snap.” The letter shows pictures of how much snow was up around the building and all the people out shoveling it! The letter states, “The trusses broke in spite of all our shoveling efforts. Spring is coming…they say!”

More from the letter: “Over 500 plus women and children have now come and gone through the Women’s Shelter. The average stay is around three to four months, though some will stay as long as nine or ten months. Others stay for just a day or two and then leave. We require the women to be at morning devotions and evening Bible studies, and they are required to attend all church services. We also have morning classes for the women that help them in practical ways. Recently, we had several of the shelter women commit to following Christ, and four were baptized just a few weeks ago.” (My many thanks to Tim and Pat for giving this letter to me.)

And Percy’s memoir this week is: “I would not trade my lot in life for anyone’s I know, For in my trials, and happiness, I’ve felt my spirits grow, I’ve squelched a tear, and laughed some, too, And done some things that others do, For through the years I’ve had so much Of human love and human touch, I would not trade my lot in life for anyone’s I know. I would not trade one day of time for all the years of others, For even with some heartbreaks, and the pain that sort of smothers, I’ve glimpsed through clouds of darkest hue A glorious sight of all things true; With silver lining that leads me on Towards life’s sunset, with my work well done. So I would not trade one day of life for all the years there are, But keep my chin raised high and firm, and my eyes upon a star.” (words by Velta Myrle Allen.)

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

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

The piano concert at the Solon Congregational Church with Alexander Walz playing the piano was held on Saturday night. There was lots of clapping going on after each song. There was an intermission, and wonderful food was provided, and then more songs were enjoyed, it was a most enjoyable evening.

On Saturday, April 1, there will be a Whist Card Party at the North Anson Congregational Church at 4:30 p.m. These parties are a lot of fun, and it is always a mystery waiting to be solved, as to who wins the big prize! If you don’t know how to play whist come and learn, it’s really easy. This event is held in the Fellowship Hall.

On Sunday, April 16, at 6 a.m., there will be a Sunrise Service and Breakfast at the North Anson Congregational Church. Everyone is invited.

The North Anson Congregational Church’s Senior Companion Program has a new contact person, Rose Hendrix. If you would like to know more about the benefits of this important service contact Rose at 628-3322 or Gail Watson at 474-9622 for more information.

There will be a community dinner for Jim Tindall and family at the Embden Community Center from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Jim is the owner of Timdall’s Store and the Dam Diner, in North New Portland. He has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Will you join us to help relieve a portion of the monetary stress to his family. The menu for this event is very varied for this meal, so you will have lots to chouse from. There will be a Silent Auction starting at 6:15 p.m., and again, many different items. It is truly a worthy cause.

Lief and I have eaten at the Dam Diner on many occasions and we really like the good food we have partaken of there and the wonderful, friendly atmosphere in this place. We always stop there on our way up to camp, but for some reason on a stormy drizzling day last week, we decided to go to the Dam Diner for lunch. We hadn’t heard of Jim’s illness, but Annette told us about it and we were so sorry. Hope everything works out for them.

Since the above is the only real news I have this week, I turned to my old Old Farmer’s Almanac Sampler which has some words about the seasons. It says, “Our poet remembers spring and sings of it when his hot summers are on him or frosts and winter– and then he does so by true remembrance and in contrast to the world about him in other seasons at that time he finds the true meaning of cloud and clod and bud and freshet and just what the bird had sung to him. 1931 March is a boisterous fellow, And undetered by fear, With many pranks proclaims himself The tomboy of the year! (That has surely been true this March of 2017, wouldn’t you say?) Now we have April coming up… ‘Tis April still, but April wrapt in cloud – Month of sweet promise and of Nature’s bliss, When earth leaps up at heaven’s reviving kiss, And flouts at Winter lingering in her shroud. (It is dark and freezing rain and snow outside my window as I write these pleasing and happy thoughts of Spring, hope it cheered you up!)

And now for Percy’s memoir: Life without purpose is barren indeed – There can’t be a harvest unless you plant a seed, There can’t be attainment unless there is a goal, And man’s but a robot unless there’s a soul…. If we send no ships out, no ships will come in, And unless there’s a contest, nobody can win… For games can’t be won unless they are played, And prayers can’t be answered unless they are prayed… So what ever is wrong with your life today, You’ll find a solution if you kneel down and pray Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health, Not just for honors and prestige and wealth… But pray for a purpose to make worth living.And pray for the joy of unselfish giving, For great is your gladness and rich your reward When you make your life’s purpose the choice of your Lord. (words by Helen Steiner Rice.)

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 met on March 11, for their sixth meeting with Hunter Soucer as president. The club raised $170 on the bake sale on town meeting day to benefit the Solon Food Cupboard.

The members voted to donate $50 to the benefit for Zack Corson. Zack was a past member of the club. Linda French invited the 4-H club to visit the Solon Food Cupboard. The members voted to do this after the April meeting.

The Evergreen Campground will host the 4-H club and leaders to a camping weekend this summer. The members voted to do this, and Cliff Stevens, of Moxie Outdoors, has offered to take the members on a rafting trip on the Kennebec River and to do a water safety meeting.

Desmond Robinson, Tehya Caplin, Laci Dickey, Sarah Craig and Dystony Young did demonstrations. Laci Dickey is planning to do hers on March 25 at the County Demonstration tournament. The next meeting will be on Saturday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station. Members not giving their demonstrations at the March meeting will do theirs in April.

The Solon Congregational Church will be hosting a solo piano concert on Saturday, March 25, at 6 p.m. This will be featuring Alexander Walz, of North Anson. Refreshments will be served. Donations will be accepted.

I know bragging is not nice, but I’m going to do it anyway! Alex, or most people call him Zander, is my grandson and he is a very special guy,. When he plays the piano you can feel how much he loves music. I highly recommend this event and it will benefit the church as well.

The grades 3-5 students at Solon Elementary School are getting ready to take the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA), which will start the week of March 20. Students in all three grades will take tests in reading, writing/language, and math. Later the fifth graders will take a test in science. Then all three grades will do a writing assessment in May.

This year’s test will be taken on thye computer. The test will be administered over multiple days so that students do not get too tired. Teachers are using practice items and teaching test-taking strategies with students to help prepare them.

The spring exhibit at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, in Skowhegan, is open for viewing. “Encore! Walking the Red Carpet with Margaret,” focuses on Senator Smith’s many connections to Tinseltown. Come see Margaret hobnob with Hollywood royalty like Jimmy Stewart, Esther Williams, Bob Hope, Marlene Dietrich, and Ronald Reagan.

This also introduces the first Margaret Chase Smith Research Scholarship recipient; highlights other researchers; and indicates the enormity of snowfall in Maine .

But spring is just around the corner and they welcome visitors, school groups, and friends to this remarkable tribute to one of Maine’s most beloved political figures.

I’m always glad when I have space to print such goings on in this area. I would still welcome any news I might receive from the Solon Coolidge Library, but I hate to keep bugging people.

And now for Percy’s memoir: I may not pass this way again, Lord let me stop awhile; To help some stranger on the way; And make somebody smile! I may not pass this way again. Lord, let me find the poor, And give them food and show them love; And lead them to Thy door! I may not pass this way again, Lord, let me love and give; And do according to Thy will While on this earth I live! (words by Marion Schoeberlein.)

I’m going to put in two of his memoirs this week, hope you like his choices: “We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God.” (words by St. Francis de Sales.)

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

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

The Solon 2017 annual town meeting will be held at the Solon Elementary School on Saturday, March 4, with voting for the following nominated candidates from 8 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Candidates are Selectman, three-year term: Sarah Davis; Road Commissioner: Michael Foster; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Leslie Giroux and MSAD # 74 School Board Director, three-year term: Laura Layman.

The annual Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club bake sale is from 8 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. The 4-H Club’s luncheon is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hope you will join them for lunch and support this club.

The town meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. In 2017 the selectmen and budget committee are again each recommending budgets that are under the state mandated cap. The selectmen’s recommended municipal budget needed to be raised by taxation, after reducing this budget by loan, reserve funds, State Revenue Sharing and available surplus, is $103 less than last year and the budget committee’s is $22 more than last year.

The following are some of the articles that will be on the agenda this year:

• Art. 3: In 2016 we were overdrawn in Town Charges by $1,563.62 and we need the authorization to use surplus to cover the overage. Articles 5 through 12: Articles to raise money for various purposes. Our budget worksheet will be available at the town office and at the town meeting;
• Art. 11-4: The Library Trustees are asking for a $5,000 increase by taxation. The selectmen and budget committee are recommending no increase. They have reserve funds invested and the yearly income is available to be used when needed.
• Art. 14: This article is to repair and repave the sidewalks on South Main Street, School St, Pleasant St. and the southerly portion of North Main St. Funding for the project will be $9,700 from the sidewalk Repair Reserve and $45,000 from the Road Paving Reserve.
• Art.17: This will give the selectmen the authority to trade in our 1991 Ford L900 Roll Off Truck and to purchase a used roll off truck for the transfer station using up to $56,000 from the transfer station truck and Tub Reserve Account Funds and taking out a loan for up to $21,000. The loan will be paid back over three years.
• Article 19: The town foreclosed on the Goldhamer property on Wentworth (Ironbound) Pond in 2012. The lot’s depth does not allow for development. We need to discuss what to do with this property.
• Article 20 & 21: This gives the selectmen authority and direction on disposing of tax acquired property. There are two separate pieces of property that were foreclosed on for nonpayment of 2014 property taxes. One property belonged to Steve Carey who died in 2014. The other property is a camp belonging to Louis Vallee.
• Articles 22 through 28 are articles either required by Maine law every year or are articles included every year for the reasons stated in the articles.

I received the above information from Leslie Giroux where they are available at the Solon Corner Store and perhaps at other stores in Solon and you can get the total articles at the town office also.

I have got to get on the ball and try and get the yearly booklets from organizations in the area so I can share what is going on there with you, and when their meetings are going to be. .

And now what you’ve been waiting for, Percy’s memoir: I’ll count the kind of deeds done today Instead of hurts that come my way. I’ll catch the sunbeams on my sill And let the clouds move as they will. I’ll listen to a trilling note And lift the one caught in my throat. I’ll nod and smile at passerby And not give in to thoughts that cry. I’ll smell the flowers as they bloom Within, without my living room. I’ll watch the children near the gate And let their freedom compensate. I’ll count the health I know today And find tomorrow – as it may… Because my hope and joy shall be the love of Christ, who strengthens me. (words by Roxie Lusk Smith).

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 met on Saturday, February 11, with President Michaela Marden presiding.

The members are planning to attend an officer training and record workshop in Skowhegan on February 20, at 10 a.m. One member is planning to take some of her sled dogs and do a demonstration with them.

On Saturday, March 4, the club will be doing a food sale to benefit the Solon Food Cupboard and a dinner at the Solon Elementary School on the annual Solon town meeting day to benefit the club’s activities. Hope more of you will go to these events to support them.

As one of their community projects 17 food trays with lots of homemade goodies and two fruit trays were made and delivered.

Leaders Lois Meader and Eleanor Pooler did demonstrations to show the new members what to do.

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

As I sit writing this week’s column we are in the middle of a very bad blizzard! Have been saving the following information for just the right occasion…and this is certainly it! As I look outside, the snow is almost completely covering some of the windows and the wind is blowing a gale and snow still coming down.

Have been studying an old book that I gave to Frank for Christmas back in 1973. It is called, The Old Farmer’s Almanac Sampler. On the inside cover it states, “Along about Thanksgiving time, when turkey and pumpkin pie are gladdening the inner man, a familiar friend, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, arrives upon the scene as it has each year since 1792. Now more popular than ever before in its long history, it goes into over a million homes throughout the country and in the far corners of the world.

“From its beginning that almanac has played an intrinsic part in our nation’s life. In the homes of countless pioneers, the Almanac and the Bible constituted the entire library. It served as a calendar, weather man, agricultural adviser, medical consultant, and a great many other things. Its miscellaneous information ranged from the signs of the zodiac to the latest gags, and its well-thumbed pages were consulted daily. For The Old Farmer’s Almanac Sampler its editor has brought together for the first time a choice sampling of the wit, wisdom,and entertainment of the almanac in other years. Here, in selections reflecting the times in which they were published, are bits of homely philosophy; anecdotes, comments, and advice on the daily life of a changing America….(And this book was published in 1957.”

There is one thing I’m going to share with you, if it gets past the editor, “A country farmer, not long since, having married a second wife, complained much of the rheumatism in his hips. He asked his wife one day what was the matter with her goose, that she did not hatch; she answered shrewdly that she supposed the gander had the rheumatism in his hips.” (That saying was in a 1796 issue of the Almanac!)

I really enjoyed Debbie Walker’s column in The Town Line issue of February 9 about Old Farmer’s Almanac.

So now for Percy’s words of wisdom memoir: “Only one principle will give you COURAGE—that is the principle that no evil lasts forever nor indeed for very long.” (words by Epicurus, 271 BC).