SOLON & BEYOND, Week of February 2, 2017

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Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
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Solon, Maine 04979

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

The annual Solon Budget Committee meeting was held at the town municipal room on January 21. Budget committee members present were Frank Ridley, Albert Starbird, Bruce Hills, George Williams, Mike Golden, Joseph Albuit, Donald Kenerson, Barbara Johnson, Eleanor Pooler, Ann Padham and Beverly Gephart. Members who were absent were Mike Sackett, Jeff Pomelow, Carol White, Sherry Rogers, Jeremy Gibson and alternate Lois Miller. Others present were Solon Selectmen Elaine Aloes, Mary Lou Ridley and Sarah Davis; Town Clerk and Tax collector Leslie Giroux, Treasurer Leslie Giroux and Road Commissioner Mike Foster.

Coolidge Library Trustees, Chairman Richard Roberts , Jane Auderkirk and Mary Farrar were present to speak on the budget requests for the library which are: request to increase the book budget from $2,400 to $5,000. Request that $2,700 be added to the town building maintenance budget for the purpose of sealing the bricks on the exterior of the library to delay the need for re-pointing. Request to increase the librarian’s wage to $12/hour. Install lighting in the library parking lot to improve safety and security. Bring interior library wiring up to code and improve lighting; request $240 to repair/refinish the surfaces of three library tables, request $250 to update the digital catalog system software and request to raise $100 to provide internet access.

Mike Golden was elected to preside over the meeting, election of chairman, update on budget issues, proposed warrant articles, proposed budget and it was adjourned at 11 a.m. There wasn’t too much discussion on most of the items taken up. ( Lief and I also attended.)

The annual town meeting will be held at the Solon Elementary School on Saturday, March 4, with election of town officials from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The town meeting will start at 1:30 p.m.

Recently, Lief and I were asked to accompany my brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Liz Jones to a Blue Grass Festival at Messer Hall, in Anson. We had an absolutely wonderful time! The band that night was the Misty Mountaineers and the show was a dedication to Dotty Farrell who played in the band until her death. There were between 85 and 90 other people who were enjoying the great music and singing. Part of the time I was watching all of the toe-tapping feet in the audience, who were enjoying it also, (Mine were tapping right along with them). There were people there from all over the state, Lief was even able to find some one from the “County” to talk with, and I was told there were others from all over the state who attended. This is probably going to sound crazy, …(but you know me!) I could feel the love in that room, there was lots of hugging going on between other blue grass music lovers. It was a very special evening for us and many others.

Now for a little bit of information about the Messer Building where this event took place. Bill and Lori Messer bought the old building at 62 Main Street, in Anson, in October 2015 and it needed an enormous amount of work and cleaning to get it ready for its opening on November 11, 2016. He had lots of help from volunteers and friends and is thankful for that. His goal is to try to book two bands a month and rent out the hall as much as possible. On Saturday, February 25, Doctor Phil and his wife will be playing there from 7 to 9 p.m. I’ve heard them and they are great, hope many of you will be able to attend.

Now for Percy’s memoir, I kinda’ thought maybe some of you might need a good laugh so picked this one from an old yellowed news print from many, many years ago: “A solution to drought: After reading about a shortage of water, especially in the wells, I remembered a verse written on the inside of a toilet lid at a camp in Carrabassett Valley. ‘In this land of sun and fun, we never flush for number one.’”( I’m not going to say who wrote it, but it was someone from Pittsfield.)

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of January 19, 2017

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by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
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Solon, Maine 04979

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

The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club has been busy in December and January. In December they adopted a family and gave them a Christmas dinner in December, collected items for the Somerset Animal Shelter, enjoyed a Christmas Party with an exchange of gifts and enjoyed refreshments. The members also made turkeys using wine glasses.

In January the members voted to do food trays for the elderly in February. Michaela Marden and the leaders will be doing demonstrations so the new members can see how they are done.

The club is planning to do a food sale to benefit the Solon Food Cupboard and a dinner to benefit the club on Solon Town Meeting Day on Saturday, March 4.

For a fun activity the members did a wood burning project.

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

Maine author Lynn Plourde spent a day at Solon Elementary School on December 7. Her visit to the school was made possible by a Donors Choose grant written by Mrs. LaChance.

While at the Solon school, Mrs. Plourde read her new book, Bella’s Fall Coat, to the student body at an assembly. She also read her book Baby Bear’s’ Not Hibernating while students and Mr. Corson acted out the parts of the story. Then Ms. Plourde visited all classrooms and worked with the students on how to write stories.

Ms. Plourde grew up in Sko0whegan and now lives in Winthrop. She has written over 30 books for children since 1997. It was a great experience for the students to work with a real author whose books they have read for years.

Thanks go to Mrs. LaChance for writing the grant and to the community members who donated to this project to bring Lynn Plourde to the Solon School.

During the first two weeks of November, the Solon Kids Care Club ran their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to collect food items for the Solon Thrift Shop Food Cupboard. They collected 200 items for needy families. The Club would like to thank students and parents for their donations to this worthy cause.

Lief’s daughter, Cynthia Fitzmaurice, from Schenectady, New York, spent this last weekend with us. While she was in Maine she visited with several other family and friends.

I read in the police log in the paper recently of someone on North Main Street, in Solon, being scammed, and my sympathy went out to them. Lief has also been targeted and it is a terrible, mind-boggling experience!

Something for you to circle on your calendar is the Solon Congregational Church will be having a baked beans and casserole supper on Saturday, January 28, at the Solon Masonic Hall off from Rt 201, from 5 to 6 p.m.

We were invited over to North Anson on Sunday for a wonderful birthday get-together dinner for Amanda’s birthday. It was a most delicious meal.
The annual Solon Budget Committee meeting will be held at the town office conference room on Saturday, January 21, at 8 a.m.

And so for Percy’s memoir called, A Touch of Love; A little beauty to pass along, A little duty to make us strong. A bit of gladness to make us whole, A little sadness to cleanse the soul. A sense of humor to make us smile… These are the things that make life worthwhile. But more important than all the above, The greatest of these… A touch of love. (words by Carmen Boitel Adams.)

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of January 12, 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!

It’s a happy day when I receive the Solon School News letter.

The Solon Kids Care Club sponsored a Secret Santa activity again this Christmas. Students and staff members drew names and each one designed a tree ornament for the person whose name he/she selected. These ornaments looked great on our school Christmas tree.

The Solon PTO sponsored a Children’s Shopping Day on December 15. Students were able to shop for inexpensive gifts for their families at a “store” set up by the PTO. Thanks to parents who donated items for this activity and to the PTO, and to the PTO members for helping out.

The Solon Christmas Program took place on December 19. Families joined in as Mr. Rich Roberts led them in singing favorite Christmas carols. Hot cocoa and cookies were served.

The annual District Christmas Concert took place at Carrabec Community School on December 14. Band and chorus students from grades 4-8 performed holiday songs under the direction of Mr. Gilbert.

The Solon Fire Department invited the students in grades K-2 to the Fire Hall for a Christmas Party on December 20. We appreciate this special activity the fire department does for the students every year.

RSU #74 Disrict fifth grade ski and snowboard trip to Sugarloaf Mountain will be held on Friday, February 3, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to join the students. Look for permission slips and other forms to come home with students. Contact Mr. Kirk Robinson with any questions.

Third grader Karen Baker was the winner of a contest sponsored by the Solon Fire Department. As the winner, Karen received a special T-shirt and a ride to school in a fire truck.

When the Solon Fire Department came to the Solon School in October in conjunction with Fire Safety Week, they taught students how to keep themselves and their families safe in the event of a fire. They asked students to write about what they learned and draw a picture to go with their writing. The firefighters chose Karen’s entry as the winning one. Congratulations, Karen.

Just a reminder; The Embden Historical Society will not be meeting during the months of January and February.

Don’t know whether any of you made New Year resolutions but when I do, it is usually hard to keep them all. But this week’s memoir from Percy is a good one entitled, ” Do It Now!” If all of the things that could have been done, Were done at the time they should have been done, There never would be any reason to say, “Do it now!” If our unanswered letters were answered , And all thoughtful acts were performed, There never would be any reason to say, “Do it now!” If we didn’t cling so tight to our old friends, And neglect to make any new, There never would be any reason to say, “Do it now!” If all of the things we thought about doing, Were done each day as it passed , There never would be any reason to say, “Do it now!” But since we are all very human, And tend to forget as we go, Let’s remind ourselves of kind deeds undone By the three little words, “Do it now!” (words by Jean Grindle).

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of January 5, 2017

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by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
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Solon, Maine 04979

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

As I sit down to write this week’s column, it is already 2017! Where did 2016 go? My mother-in-law always told me, “The older you get, the faster the years go!” Truer words were never spoken. It is nice to be busy, but there is such a thing as too busy! And that is what I was in 2016, hope 2017 won’t be quite so busy, ( I can dream!) Anyway, I wish you a very Happy New Year.

Starting January 4, for the months of January and February, the Embden Thrift Shop (and Lending Library) will be closed Wednesday afternoons. Bone Builders (9 – 10 a.m.) and Sewing (10 a.m. – noon) will meet as usual on Wednesdays.

Because the name of this column is Solon and Beyond, I have always appreciated news from other communities as well. This week I have room for some words from a very interesting e-mail I received from Somerset Woods Trustees about Bill Townsend receiving SWT’s 2016 Conservation Award. “Somerset Woods has many reasons to thank Bill, his dedication to conservation has bequeathed us with Townsend Preserve, the Land for Maine’s Future, free-flowing rivers and surely the best fishing stories in the county.”

Another one of Bill Townsend’s favorite hometown (Canaan), projects was the Canaan Public Library. More words from the e-mail I received: “Just a few feet from Rte. 2 sat the Canaan Public Library, located in a one-room schoolhouse from the 1850s. Despite its tough location and lack of a restroom, it was a popular place. Schoolchildren walked down in groups from the Canaan Elementary School for special occasions, people in need of a computer or wireless service logged in to connect to the internet , a knitting group met there, and books, DVDs, and a variety of items loaned.

“The Library’s trustees had long wanted to build a new library, but it seemed like a bridge just too, too far for our small town. But then Bill Townsend did something extraordinary. He donated 14 acres of land across the street, behind the town hall and fire station, and made it available to the library for a new location. His generous donation was catalytic. The townspeople, loath to take on debt, contributed up to $25,000 per year to a building fund; private foundations such as the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Skowhegan Savings Bank, Davis Family Foundation, Morton-Kelly Foundation, The Betterment Fund, and Plum Creek granted about a third of the cost of new construction; a local engineer Steve Ruell patiently designed the building with endless citizen input; and Friends of thye Library baked pies, sold used books, held events, and wrote checks.”

It took several years, with help from many people working together but in 2014 they reached their goal of paying cash for a new library on the land that Bill donated. “In 2014, we opened our doors to a lovely library that sits quietly in a field with old apple trees, ample parking, and a trail to the Carrabasset Stream.”

He envisioned a trail by the stream for children to fish from and it was built with the help of volunteers. A veteran’s memorial now graces the grounds. Flowers have been planted by the entryway and “thye little library that could” now sits on the brow of the hill that Bill Townsend donated.

“Bill Townsend will be remembered with fondness and gratitude for many, many generations, for without his generous gift to the town of Canaan, as well as his vision, this library would never have been built.”

My many heartfelt thanks for that e-mail, it was very heart warming.

I do have one more little piece of news to share. The Pilgrim Fellowship of the North Anson Congregational Church will be meeting at the church at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 8.

Percy always did like to quote words from important people so this week his memoir is from Eleanor Roosevelt : “Do whatever comes your way to do as well as you can. Think as little as possible about yourself and as much as possible about other people and about things that are interesting. Put a good deal of thought into happiness that you are able to give.”

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 22, 2016

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by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
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Solon, Maine 04979

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

Nomination papers are available at the Solon Town Office for those who might want to run for an office. Those who have already taken out papers at this time are Sarah Davis for selectman, Mike Foster for road commissioner and Leslie Giroux for Town Clerk and Tax Collector. At this time no one has taken out papers for RSU #74 School Board Director. 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 13, 2017. Please see the clerk to obtain a nomination paper during business hours; Monday, Wednesday, Friday…8 a.m. – noon, 11 – 4 p.m., and Wednesday evening 6 – 7:45 p.m.

The annual town meeting will be held on March 4, 2017, and the budget meeting will be held on January 21, 2017.

The 5th Annual Gingerbread Competitions, sponsored by All/Points/Weber Insurance, in Madison, was held recently. This year’s them was “Your Favorite Holiday.”

Winners were: Adult Group: Decorator’s and People’s Choice – Maplecrest Nursing Home, Madison; Group Children: Decorator’s and People’s Choice – BryAnna and Bryleigh Hagopian, of Madison. Individual Child age 5-8: Decorators Choice – Finn Donoghue, of Madison.

People’s Choice: Kaylee Hayes, of Anson.
Individual Child age 9-12: Decorator’s Choice – Elle Donoghue, of Madison. People’s Choice: Jacob Hayes, of Anson. Individual Adult: Decorator’s Choice and People’s Choice – Caroline A. Prevost, of North Anson.
Other entries were by: Sydney Steward and Lizz Manzer, of Anson, Trevor Russell, of North Anson, Ivy Wess, of Madison, Haley McFadyen, of North Anson, Laura Holden, of Madison, Trinity Shaw, of North Anson, and Ryan Donoghue, of Madison.

The judging for Decorator’s Choice was provided by Mike Hunt, owner/decorator from the Bankery, in Skowhegan. They had 115 come into the office to vote for People’s Choice. Next year’s theme is “Nursery Rhymes.” The above information was from Sharon Mellows.

Through a gracious donor. the Embden Community Center has over 50 hard cover books in excellent shape; some are even autographed. (There are a few paperbacks.) Many of the books are on the New York Times Best Seller List. You could purchase them for yourself, but there’s a good possibility that you could give them as a Christmas gift. They are for sale at the Embden Community Center Thrift Shop for $2 each.

The Thrift Shop is open Wed., Fri., & Sat. from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Lending Library is open the same days and hours. Books are a weakness of mine, I love all kinds.Would like to share a great rather new author with those of you who love a good mystery. His name is Paul Doiron, and a good friend let me borrow some of them, and I also took a couple of them out of the Coolidge Library here in town. I would recommend that you read them in order, from first one written to last. the first one is The Poacher’s Son, Trespasser, Bad Little Falls, Massacre Pond, Bone Orchard, The Precipice and Widowmaker. I couldn’t put them down when I was reading them, surely do hope he will write some more, Happy reading!

Must leave room for Percy’s memoir, it is a thought for the New Year: “New Beginnings: Each chapter that is ending Leads us to a new beginning: The past that we are leaving Means a future we are winning. Each change that fills the present Sets the stage for our tomorrow, And how we meet each challenge Helps determine joy or sorrow. In every new beginning Spirit plays a vital part; We must approach tomorrow With a strong and steady heart. So as we turn the corner Let’s all apprehension shed And fill our hearts with confidence As we proceed ahead.” (words by Bruce B. Wilmer.)

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 15, 2016

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

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

Received an e-mail saying that the Country Sunday/Open Mic was canceled for December 11 and also on December 18.

The next Country Sunday will be on January 8, 2017, and then following the schedule of the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month 1 – 4 p.m.

Have just checked my e-mails again and there is nothing else to share with you, for real up to date happenings in Solon and Beyond that I’m aware of. But, living down here in South Solon instead of the middle of town, I’m sometimes the last to know what is going on.

As all of you should know by now, I truly love what you share with me, (both what I can print and what I can not!) I am going to share with you part of an e-mail I received from Peter Sirois back in 2012, (came across it when I was up to my house going through STUFF!) He starts out saying that he had just read the November 22 issue of The Town Line and these are some of his words: “I was especially impressed with Marilyn Rogers’ column. The story started out tame enough with the news about the super map brought to the Solon Elementary School. It must have given the young folks a new perspective to view a part of our earth in such a large format. We need to interest our youth so much in the vastness of our planet. The real treat came when Marilyn went on to describe journalism. ‘Always fight to progress and reform; never tolerate injustice and corruption….’ These days, so many news personalities (I am reluctant to call them journalists) fail to remember the original purpose of the press. The quote from Edward R. Murrow certainly reminded me of one of my journalistic heroes.” Mr. Sirois goes on to say, “It was refreshing to hear so many words of truth from someone writing for a local “free” weekly paper. Someone once said, ‘The best things in life are free. In your case , this is certainly true. I understand the need for local papers to promote local businesses.’ He ends with the words, “I hope that people will always be able to enjoy the results of your effort to publish the truth, both small and large. I do wish you well and hope local folks continue to support your endeavors.”

The very kind words sent to me back in 2012, and when I came across them again. really help this reporter in so many ways. It isn’t always a “Thank you ” that I receive for printing the truth. Have made quite a few enemies by this habit of mine, the truth hurts, you know! That must have been the “Stone Wall” issue that got me riled, and in that case, justice was served, finally. But, I do believe that that “worthy cause” got me in more trouble than any other over all the years that I have been writing. (I would like to thank Editor Roland Hallee for having the courage and trust in me to have printed some of them. But, have you noticed, Roland, I’m trying to stay away from “worthy causes” lately?

And so for Percy’s memoir by Helen Steiner Rice: “A Sure Way to a Happy Day… Happiness is something we create in our mind, It’s not something you search for and so seldom find – It’s just waking up and beginning the day By counting our blessings and kneeling to pray – It’s giving up thoughts that breed discontent And accepting what comes as a “gift heaven-sent – It’s giving up wishing for things we have not And making the best of whatever we’ve got – It’s knowing that life is determined for us, And pursuing our tasks without fret, fume or fuss – For it’s by completing what God gives us to do That we find real contentment and happiness, too.” (Helen Steiner Rice is my favorite poet, hope I haven’t used this one before.)

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 8, 2016

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

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

This week I’ll start off with a little news that I didn’t write about the women’s shelter in Solon before because of lack of space. This new building where the shelter is now behind the New Hope Church, in Solon, two new group classes were begun for the women back in July. On Mondays there is a nutrition/cooking class, and on Tuesdays there is a parenting class for the women with minor children. These classes help the residents not only with their spiritual needs, but also with practical skills needed for a productive life after they leave the shelter.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about other news from Tim and Pat about the New Hope Church and Women’s Shelter and the wonderful things happening there. The e-mail I received ended with, “Thank You! We are so grateful to each of you for your interest in and support of the ministries we have been part of over the past 46 years.”

One other item in the e-mail was this request, “Pray that Pat will quickly learn the various skills needed in her position as secretary. She laments, “I can milk cows, muck stalls, drive tractors; but run a copy machine? Learn computer programs? If the trial of my faith works patience, I should be all set on patience for the next billion years!”

My sympathy goes out to her, I have a similar problem with anything electronic, and it is most frustrating! Best of wishes go out to you and your church for all you do.

Received a copy of the Embden Historical Society, Inc., 2017 Program from Carol Dolan and there won’t be any meeting in January and February. The March 13 meeting program: DVD Blizzard to Blossoms (Winter 1948-49, Skowhegan) and April meeting Program: Fiddleheads A to Z, sound very interesting and some things to look forward to.

Other things to look forward to at the Embden Community Center are: On December 10, Phil Amadon will present a musical show from 7 – 9 p.m. All proceeds to benefit the center. On December 11, 1 – 4 p.m., Country Jam/Open Mic on second and fourth Sunday, by donation. Kitchen open.

Another event at the Embden Community Center is a sale at the Embden Thrift Shop on boots and shoes, half off on men’s and women’s and kids through (Dec. 7, 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.). The Lending Library is open the same days and times. ( My many thanks go out to Carol Dolan, she is my most dedicated helper. I truly appreciate your e-mails). I’m sure my readers do also, it is nice to know what is going on in our communities.

For those of you who perhaps have not seen your news in, it is because I didn’t get it in time for my deadline. I need all news by early Sunday to get it in that week’s Thursday edition. Thanks to all of you, I do appreciate your help in providing me with newsworthy items.

Yesterday was one of those wonderful days when good things happen. Son Dave had called to let me know that he and wife Eleanor (Pete), would be coming to see us. They do this every year, so we can exchange Christmas gifts before they leave for Florida. After opening our gifts we always go out to eat, this year was extra special, Peter, Sherry, Chandra and Cole joined us at Ken’s Restaurant and we all enjoyed our meal and joy of being together.

I’ve got a little extra space this week so I’m going to put in two of Percy’s memoirs: “Life’s greatest celebrations are born in the heart.” And, “The path to wisdom is never easy, but those who strive will find their journey blessed.”

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of December 1, 2016

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

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

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

The team advisers are Mrs. LaChance, and Mrs. Stevens. LaChance organizes activities for all of the K-2 students. Stevens works with a team of students in grades 4-5 who will organize activities for the school. These are the members this year in the Solon Kids CARE Club: Emily Baker, Jayden Cates, Sarah Craig, Michael Crane, Cooper Dellarma, Sascha Evans, Charlie Golden, William Lawrence, Summer Lindblom, Abby Parent, Jackson Pease, Allison Pinkham, Desmond Robinson, Alyssa Schinzel and Ciarrah Whittemore.

The Kids Care Club is already hard at work. They ran a Halloween Dime Raffle in which they raised $177.40 to be used for T-shirts and for other team activities. The winners were William Lawrence for the boys prize, Paige Reichert for the girls prize, and the fourth grade for the class prize.

They sponsored a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the Solon Thrift Shop Food Cupboard. On November 17, some members of the group attended a conference at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Thanks to Donors Choose grant applied for by Mrs. LaChance, Maine author Lynn Plourde will visit Solon Elementary School on December 7. Ms. Plourde will do a school-wide assembly and then will spend time working in each classroom with the students. Parents are welcome to attend.

The Embden Historical Society has the following for sale. Any one ( or all of them) might make nice Christmas presents. Embden Town of Yore, by Ernest G. Walker. Originally printed in 1929 by the Independent Reporter, Skowhegan, Maine. This book was recently reduced in price from $60 to $40 plus shipping if necessary. The Embden Historical Society has reprinted this classic Embden history book. The deluxe hardcover edition has over 760 pages with useful information for genealogists and others interested in the history of Embden from the earliest settlers to the early 1900s. The book, “South of Lost Nation,” by Ernest G. Walker, has been reprinted and spiral bound. For the first time, this rich resource also includes a 46-page name-only index. The town of Concord was evidently called “Lost Nation,” making the town of Embden “south of nation.” This book contains genealogical information about local families – births, deaths, marriages and tales of the area, this one is for $18 plus $3 shipping. To order a copy, contact Emily Quint.

They also have an Embden Afghan for sale, this limited edition 46-inch by 67-inch cotton fringed afghan depicts nine historical sites of the area. On a cream background, the navy and green designs and lettering represent the blue of Emden Lake and green of the forests. To order an afghan you may contact Emily Quint at PO Box, North Anson, ME o4958, price is $25.00 plus $9.

And now for Percy’s memoir called Possibilities: The more faith you have, the more you believe, The more goals you set, the more you’ll achieve. So reach for the stars, pick a mountain to climb, dare to think big, but give yourself time.

Remember no matter How futile things seem, with faith, there is no impossible dream! (words by Alice Joyce Davidson.)

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of November 24, 2016

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

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

The first Quarter Honor Roll students at Solon Elementary School receiving all A’S are Jayden Cates, Cooper Dellarma, Gavyn Easler, Sascha Evans, Courtney Grunder, Summer Lindblom, Aiden McLaughlin, Macie Plourde, Desmond Robinson, William Rogers, Aaron Soosman and Hailey Wyman. All A’s & B’S Emily Baker, Karen Baker, Tehya Caplin, Sarah Craig, Caden Fitton, Riley Graham, Reid Golden, Sherrill Hall, Zachary Hemond, Nevaeh Holmes, Cody James, William Lawrence, Madyson McKenney, Ciara Myers-Sleeper, Abigail Parent, Cailin Priest, Mylee Roderrick, THomas Roderick, Alyssa Schinzel, Katelynn, Brooks Sousa, Fisher Tewksbury, Lucas Vicneire and Dystany Young.

On September 21, Solon Elementary School held a Space Night and Open House for the PreK-5 students and their families. The teachers were pleased to have 190 people in attendance, which represented 78 percent of the families.

Families visited classrooms, shopped at the PTO Book Fair, enjoyed refreshments, and learned more about space. The highlight of the evening was a planetarium show called “The Wonderful Sky” in an inflatable indoor dome brought by Mr. John Meader from Northern Stars Planetarium in Fairfield.

Students had a chance to win space-related door prizes, and all students left with a goodie bag.

The event was funded by a grant from the MELMAC Foundation.

On September 29 and October 20, Solon students and staff participated in the Walking School Bus Program. This activity is part of the school wellness plan.

Students, staff, and parents met at the Solon Thrift Shop each of those mornings and walked to school to promote exercise and fitness. When they got to school, the cook, Mrs. Lawrence served everyone breakfast.

The 6th annual Christmas Program and Sunday School Pageant at the North Anson Congregational Church will be held on Sunday, November 27 at 4 .pm. This program includes music, readings, skits and the singing of carols. I may be a bit biased, (my daughter Mary is the head of the Sunday School), and in my opinion this annual event is always very inspiring and gets one in the spirit of Christmas. Hope to see you there.

Was very happy to receive an e-mail from Tim and Pat at the New Hope E. F. Church, in Solon, with updates on the women’s shelter etc. “The shelter has been blessed to receive several grants that have enabled us to purchase two storage sheds (each 10′ x 20′) and a generator, and also pay for the construction of a permanent entryway. In addition, a rescue mission in Bangor, has closed its thrift store and has given this building to us to do with as the Lord leads. What a blessing!

They have re furbished the original women’s shelter (the north wing of the church), making the upstairs into a youth center where teens can gather to enjoy fun, fellowship, and a time of Bible study on Friday evenings.

Several new women and children have recently been welcomed into the women’s shelter, while several others have moved into apartments of their own.

Besides Tim’s many pastoral duties and responsibilities as board president of the women’s shelter, he has taken on the role of youth leader and Pat has been hired by the church to be Tim’s secretary.

The Solon Congregational Church will host an annual Christmas Fund raiser event on Saturday, December 3, at 6 p.m. Entertainment will be the Liberty String Band. Refreshments will be served following the program. Admission will be by donation.

We had our annual Rogers’ Thanksgiving day on the Sunday before the actual day, at the home of Peter and Sherry Rogers, on the River Road. with 22 in attendance. As always, it was extra special, one reason being, Mark and Karen always drive up from Florida to share the love and great food. At first this occasion started with a long table in the living room, but with the young ones growing up and adding wives, it is now held in the garage. It never ceases to amaze me how they turn the garage into such a warm and welcoming place for the food and fun of the day, the game following the meal yesterday was lots of fun, as always!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day as well, and Percy’s memoir says it all… Life’s greatest celebrations are born of the heart.”

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of November 17, 2016

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Solon and Beyondby 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 5 for the second meeting. Seven members are planning to attend a workshop at the Somerset County Extension office on Saturday, November 19. They will be making Holiday Swags.

The members voted to bring in items for the Skowhegan Animal Shelter next meeting as one of the club’s community projects.

Officers elected were: president, Michaela Marden; vice president, Cooper Dellarma; secretary, Lacy Dickey; assistant secretary, Desmond Robinson; treasurer, Devyon Re Leonardis ; assistant treasurer, Hunter Soucer, color bearers, Sarah Craig, Dystany Young, Brooks Saucer and Tehya Caplin.

Haley Dellarma and Amanda De Leonadis are planning to be leaders next year.

Following the election of officers etc., leader, Eleanor Pooler showed the members how to make grape vine wreaths as a fun activity.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, December 3, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station.

There won’t be any Solon Historical Society meetings during the months of December and January.

On November 19 Band: Doug Mathieu, Danny Taylor & Adam Cates at the Embden Community Center from 7 – 10 pm.

Received a couple of e-mails from Happyknits: Hello Yarn Friends! It seems as if just the other day I was complaining about the heat, and here we are already nearing Thanksgiving! How did that happen? Before we know it, the Christmas season will be here. So, on Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday (November 25 and 26), Happyknits will be joining with lots of locally owned businesses in downtown Skowhegan to celebrate our “smallness.” We are still working out the final details, but expect to see some fabulous deals here at Happyknits. Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll be seeing signs go up in participating storefronts in town Skowhegan. They will each be offering special “Shop Small” deals of their own, so there will be lots of ways to satisfy everyone on your gift list without heading out to the mall.

The second e-mail from Happyknits states that they are offering a daily dose of fiber therapy for you. If you come to the shop you might just find fellow knitters and crocheters releasing tension through their finger tips while working on beautiful projects. So grab your project bag and head on down. You’ll feel better . We promise! (I totally agree on that one! Nothing is more relaxing for me than knitting!)

Lief and I have attended three funerals of friends and relatives within a seven day period, it kinda’ gets to you after awhile.

But on a brighter note, When Mark called tonight he said they were in Pennsylvania in their journey back to Maine from their home in Florida for our annual family Thanksgiving at Peter and Sherry’s this weekend. There is always something to be thankful for.

And so now for Percy’s memoir: A Touch of Love: A little beauty to pass along, a little duty to make us strong. A bit of gladness to make us whole, a little sadness to cleanse the soul. A sense of humor to make us smile… these are the things that make life worthwhile. But more important than all the above, the greatest of these… A touch of love. (words by Carmen Boitel Adams). The date of Percy’s passing was just a few days ago, it has been a year, but we still miss him lots. Hope you are all enjoying his memoirs, he was a very special cat.