Give Us Your Best Shot! Week of September 21, 2017

HUMMINGBIRD OR MOTH?: Eric Austin, of China, snapped this sphinx moth, AKA hummingbird moth, in one of his mother’s flower beds.

 

GROWING UP: Tina Richard, of Clinton, photographed this eaglet while on a walk on her favorite trail.

 

FIREBALL: Tawni Lively, of Winslow, captured this fireball sunset following the recent eclipse.

Soccer and field hockey action in Winslow

Winslow U-14 travel soccer player Justin Sardano, left, works for control of the ball during a recent game vs. Dirigo. Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography staff

Winslow Junior High field hockey player Nevaeh Duplessie (24) and Devyn Lively (27) team up against Skowhegan in their opening game of the season on September 13. Photo by Tawni Lively, Central Maine Photography staff

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Big green caterpillar

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee

Last week a reader sent a photograph of a caterpillar that she couldn’t identify (see photo).

The photo she sent shows the Hyalophora cecropia in its fifth instar (stage) of development, or the cecropia moth caterpillar. It is the largest native North American moth.

Cecropia caterpillar

The female moth has had its wings measured up to six inches or more. Its range is from Nova Scotia in eastern Canada and Maine south to Florida, and west to the Canadian and U.S. Rocky Mountains. It can also be found in California.

Like all members of the giant silk moth family, the moths only reproduce because they lack functional mouth parts or digestive system, meaning they never eat. Therefore, the life expectancy is only about two weeks.

The female lays up to 100 eggs, which hatch into tiny black caterpillars. The larvae feed upon many common trees and shrubs, including maple, birch and apple. The larvae are more commonly found on maple trees. As they grow larger, it becomes clear that the black color is actually small hairs growing. In the early stages they are yellow-green. As they grow larger, the colors change to green to bluish-green, with the tubercles becoming blue, yellow and orange. Upon reaching matu-rity in autumn, the caterpillar, now about four inches long, spin large cocoons on trees or wooden structures to emerge as adults in the first two weeks of seasonally warm weather in early summer. They only have one generation per year.

Pests of the moth have become a significant problem. Parasites such as wasps and flies lay their eggs in or on the young caterpillars. The eggs then hatch into larvae, which consume the internal organs and muscles of the caterpillars. Once the eggs hatch into larvae, the para-sites release chemicals that override the regulatory mechanisms of the caterpillar, and will eventually kill the cecropia pupa. Squirrels also consume the pupae of the cecropia moths, which decreases the population significantly. Pruning of trees and leaving outdoor lights on at night can also be detrimental to the moths.

Cecropia moth

The wings of the moth are brownish with red near the base of the forewing. Crescent-shaped spots of red with whitish center are obvious on all wings, but are larger on the hindwings. All wings have whitish coloration followed by reddish bands of shading beyond the postmedial lie that runs longitudinally down the center of all four wings. The body is hairy with reddish color-ing. The body has alternating bands of red and white.

The coloration of the moth is so spectacular they are prized by collectors and nature lovers, specifically for their large size and extremely showy appearance.

Now you can impress your friends when someone sees one of these and you can identify it as the Hyalophora cecropia.

Sugg participates in TREK program

On August 19, Rusty Sugg, of Palermo, along with over 250 first-year University of Vermont students, were led by 80 upper class peers as they began their UVM experience as part of the UVM TREK program, a unique, seven-day first year enrichment program sponsored by the University’s Department of Student Life.

Sugg participated in Rock Climbing TREK. A part of the Wilderness TREK program which provides students the opportunity to build lasting friendships, initiate self-discovery, and explore the people and landscapes that are Vermont. Rock Climbing TREK provides incoming students an opportunity to learn the basics of rock climbing — from safety, equipment, belay techniques, climbing techniques and top roped anchor system while visit legendary rock climbing sites throughout Vermont and the Adirondacks.

I’m Just Curious: The Tree of Life

by Debbie Walker

When I learn something new I enjoy passing it on. Not all that I/we write is going to be interesting to all who considers reading articles that I/we have written. So once again I am in your face with something that just boggled my mind. I, of course, am interested in what some of you may think; keeping in mind that some things I am interested in my poor mom just shakes her head. I can’t help it; I just enjoy “stuff.”

I am bringing this to you without very much research. I am sorry that all I may do is just peak your interest a bit, maybe. Searching out information is just a journey for me that I am not quite ready to take. I am hoping some of you will have to look up the subject. It will mean something a little different to all of us, I am sure.

Image Source: pixabay.com

Last week I was having a medical visit, met up with my nurse and as usual, the talk was on. She had on a pair of earrings that matched my ring. It is simple design, it is called the Tree of Life, have you ever seen it? To me it has always been the grandmother’s tree (that explanation will come later) but it is known as the Tree of Life. My nurse asked if I knew the story behind it. I have to admit that with all my curiosity I did not ever think to look it up. Well, she had been guided by a medical friend of hers to look it up on the computer. She shared this info with me. We went to Google, typed in Placenta, Tree of Life and up pops this website that has all these pictures of PLACENTA, normally I would say “Oh Yuck!” but I was too shocked. In each of the dozens of pictures you can easily see the copied design of the “Tree of Life.” It is absolutely amazing!

A doctor friend I love to share stuff with said the placenta provides nutrition for the fetus like a tree root system. I shouldn’t be surprised at all of this, babies are life, and they are in the chain of how life begins.

As I said earlier, some of you will be interested enough to look further as I may someday. I am just enjoying being so amazed about this much of it. I would hope for you that each day you find something that you are “Just Curious” about.

Please contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with your questions and comments. Don’t forget to check out our website for The Town Line.

Rock Group: Beach Boys; Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Conductor: Fritz Reiner

Beach Boys

Beach Boys

Beach Boys

Spirit of America Capitol- SVBB 511384, two stereo LPs, released 1975.

Spirit of America collected 23 tracks consisting of earlier Capitol hits that were not part of 1974’s anthology, Endless Summer; it also contained a few album cuts regarded as worthy of inclusion and two rare 45 gems –1969’s Break Away and a very sweet gem from 1965, The Little Girl I Once Knew.

In fact, the entire album is a treasure of very captivating songs, each of which should be accessible for listening on youtube! This group was a major contributor to American music that will live on in posterity.

Rimsky-Korsakoff

Scheherazade
Leopold Stokowski conducts the Royal Philharmonic: RCA Victor ARL-1-1182, 12-inch stereo LP, recorded 1969.

Rimsky-Korsakoff

This piece has not only been recorded dozens of time, but has generated good recordings in almost every instance, at least among the ones I have heard own. The reason may be that players really love playing it and willingly and fully cooper-ate with conductors to achieve the best possible results!

The above is the last recording of at least four different ones that Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977 ) did; his first complete recording appeared in a 78 rpm set in 1927, the ad for it displayed on the back of the 1969 release. And it is pos-itively a joy, with much excite-ment, colorful instrumental detail, pulse and vivid sound and is a great choice for collectors.

Beethoven

Symphonies 1 and 9 Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists- RCA Victor LSC 6026, two vinyl 12-inch LP, recorded spring, 1961.

Fritz Reiner

Just before the Chicago Symphony 1960-61 season, the orchestra’s music director, Fritz Reiner (1888 – 1963), was struck down severe heart disease but recovered enough to sit in a chair most of the time while conducting. And just in time to conduct the last concert of the season in May, 1961.

The program was the First and Ninth, or Choral, Symphonies, a concert so immensely exciting, stirring, exalting, inspiring — all these superlatives together with others would not begin to touch what people were applauding – and what Reiner drew from all of the players, singers and four soloists that one spring night, according to observers, and while in the frail health that would lead to his resignation in late 1962.

At 6 a.m. early the next morning, RCA Victor recorded the program in which Reiner delivered similar results that can be heard on the above-listed set, one still available on CD and most of it accessible on YouTube!

History of Kenway topic at Palermo Library

Kenneth G. Priest II will present the History of Kenway Corporation on Thursday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m., at the Palermo Community Library, at 2789 Route 3, Palermo. The event is co-sponsored by the Palermo Historical Society and the Palermo Community Library.

After serving in the Air Force in World War II, Kenneth G. Priest founded Kenway Boats in his garage, building wooden run-abouts of his own design. Located at the junction of the South Liberty and Banton roads, in Palermo,  Kenway provided employment to many local resi-dents to work in the boat-building shop.  Kenway became a valued and respected business in Palermo and the surrounding areas.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact www.palermohistorical.org or Palermo Library at 993- 6088, www.palermo.lib.me.us.

Parish outing, e-waste recycling huge success

St. John Regional Catholic School

In observance of the 10th anniversary of the creation of Corpus Christi Parish, which consists of the com-munities of Fairfield, Oakland, Vassalboro, Waterville and Winslow, a Family Fun Day was held on September 17, at St. John Regional Catholic School, in Winslow. Nearly 400 parishioners and friends attended the all-free outing. Also, the previous day, according to pastor Rev. Dan Baillargeon, over 35,000 pounds of e-waste was collected at Notre Dame Church, in Waterville, raising approximately $1,600 for the Catholic Charities fight against poverty in Maine.

Photo by Roland D. Hallee

Kennebec County retirees continue to support the classroom

Kennebec Retired Educators Association (KREA) will award three $150 grants to educators in Kennebec County schools. The KREAtive grants supplement expenses incurred in student-centered, interdisciplinary projects and may be expended for materials used in the classroom, speakers’ fees, project development expenses, etc.

Grant description and applications are being disseminated to every principal of all elementary, middle, and high schools. The principals are then asked to make them available to their classroom teachers.

“Even though we are not actively teaching in the classroom anymore, for many of us that is where our hearts remain long after we retire,” says Rosanna Joseph of Waterville, chairperson of the innovative KREAtive Classroom Grant Committee and retired Winslow elementary teacher.

“We just want to give back to our schools and students in as many ways as possible,” says committee member Phil Gonyar of Waterville where he served as chairperson of the high school social studies department. Having also served as superintendent of schools in Bangor, Gonyar initiated the annual grant project in 2014.

Grant applications must be submitted by email to gldavis56@yahoo.com or be postmarked by October 30 to KREAtive Grant Committee, c/o George Davis, 12 Fieldstone Drive, Waterville, ME 04901. The deadline for submitting the grant application is October 31, 2017. The winning applicants will be notified by December 1, 2017 and will receive the grant money at that time.

KREA is comprised of retired educators from 54 schools in 31 cities and towns.

Saige Knight enrolled at St. Lawrence University

St. Lawrence University, in Canton, New York, has welcomed Saige Knight, of Oakland, as a member of the class of 2021. Knight attended Messalonskee High School.
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