SOLON & BEYOND: Pine Tree 4-Hers hold meeting

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

I was very pleased to receive the following e-mail: Solon Pine Tree met on Saturday, January 9, at the Solon Fire Station. In attendance were Cooper and Kaitlin Delarma, Lindsay and Charlotte Hamilton, Jilliam Robinson, and Sarah Craig.

The craft project was making a cloth mask from a T-shirt.

New News: 4-H Virtual Passport Around the World is being offered to members 12-18 years of age. This opportunity starts January 19 and introduces young people to their peers from different cultural backgrounds. They use brief presentations, hands-on activities and discussions to learn about different countries. Due to COVID-19 Solon Pine Tree 4-H will be unable to provide a dinner for the annual town meeting in Solon this year. They are also unable to sell baked goods for the annual fundraiser to benefit the Solon Food Cupboard. Solon Solon Pine Tree 4-H will provide a donation box to collect donations for the food cupboard on town meeting day. In March, five members will give their demonstrations.

Next Meeting: Their next meeting will be Saturday, February 13, at 9:30 a.m., at the station.

My many thanks to Hailey Dellarma for sending me the above news.

Now for some more Solon School News that I didn’t have room for last week: Second Graders Enjoy Bird Study: This year the L.C. Bates Museum, in Hinckley, can’t send museum staff members to our school to present natural science programs to the students as has been done in past years. But the museum found a way to still reach out to area area schools with their wonderful science lessons.

With funding from a grant, this year the museum made up two units, one on birds and one on insects, complete with videos and hands-on activities for second grade students. Because students can’t share materials, the museum made up an individual kit for each student.

Mrs. Currieie’s second graders loved the bird kit and especially dissecting owl pellets. They were fascinated by the things they found in the pellets, which showed what owls eat. The insect kits will arrive soon, and the students look forward to studying about bugs. The teachers appreciate the support of the L.C. Bates Museum in teaching the students about science in a hands-on, interactive way that engages students while still meeting social distancing guidelines.

My many thanks, also to the ones who send the above news from Solon School News! It is very much appreciated by me, and I hope those who read it.

Both Lief and I were very excited one day last week when there was a picture of a Pine Grosbeak on the front page of the daily paper! Above the picture it said, “OUT-OF-STATE-VISITOR! Just a couple of days prior to that we had seen three of these beautiful birds enjoying the seeds we put out every day for our bird friends. (Under the picture in the paper it said, “A female Pine Grosbeak pits a seed Monday while feeding on fruit with a flock of fellow Canadian finches in Readfield. Reports of irrupting boreal birds persist across Maine with numerous species feeding across the state due to a scarcity of fruit and seeds in Canada.”

Lief and I really enjoy watching all our different bird friends as they fly around and eat the seeds we put out for them; it was a true blessing when we had one from a different country

As you all know, I’ve been going back in time lately for lack of recent news, and that is why I get so excited, when I do get some, like the above….Can’t thank you enough.

I’m a little behind this morning so I know many of you look forward to Percy’s memoirs: The first one is Don’t Give Up, You may be tempted to, but don’t give up; when you’ve lost the desire to try, and you’ve misplaced your hopeful dreams, dare to believe again in the impossible; Catch a ray of sunshine, and hold on tightly; The One who holds your hand….will never let you go.

And now another one to cheer you up in these troubled times….called The Secret of Living: Make each day a magnificent adventure. Accept the challenges that come your way. Seize each opportunity that you find. Without concern for what others might say. Experience each day with open arms. Savoring both victory and strife. Welcoming the good and bad together. For only then will you know the joy of life.

Again I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!