Page 12B, The Bridgton News, January 30, 2014
Continuations
It Dawned on Me: Season of the Wolverine
(Continued from Page B) verine. “In fact, I will survive on the carcasses of your avalanches,” the wolverine says while digging into the concrete-like snow looking for the nutritious bones of the dead. To its merit, the wolverine uses its resources wisely; not a morsel of marrow goes to waste. Marrow is not only the word for the inner cavity of bones where blood cell production takes place, but it also means strength and vitality. Another characteristic that is awesome is the wolverine’s strength. Although small in stature, a wolverine can rise against a brown bear with a formidable aggression. For its home, the wolverine dens under the snow, excavat-
ing tunnels that are up to 175 feet long. The female wolverine covers a range of 50 to 100 square miles; while the male travels triple that size of territory, with a 240-squaremile range. No wonder they’re willing to battle a bear or labor in an avalanche chute: Wolverines need those calories. It is amazing how well designed wolverines are for the climate in which they live. Wolverines have super-warm coats. Their fur has a natural insulation, a waterproof ability and a resistance to frost that even man’s most supreme GORE-TEX® cannot duplicate. Wolverines have feet that serve as organic snowshoes, allowing them to travel across the winter terrain. Even their
bone structure lends itself to movement across deep snow. See how amazing the wolverine is. Another thing about the North American wolverine that is interesting – besides the fact that they are able to live in locales that are stunningly beautiful and fabulously frosted; wolverines are rarely spotted, which is almost like being invisible. However, the recent advances in photographic equipment, particularly motion-activated video recorders, have allowed humans to document the activities of wolverines in such places as northern California and Michigan. The name for wolverine, Gulo Gulo, actually means glutton or gluttonous one — for it has a ravenous appetite.
This week, I have had few wolverine moments — that was once the temperature rose to 32 degrees. On Saturday, I decided to check on how the canoe was wintering. By the time I negotiated the downhill climb and coating of ice on the snow, I realized I had forgotten my shovel. The canoe appeared to be three times its height. Plus, about six inches of that was a layer of ice — like a force field protecting the snow. Using my boots, I began to kick at the snow, removing a little at a time. The job took about 20 minutes. (It took twice as long to re-warm my feet.) I envisioned the Titanic as the last three massive chunks of ice broke free, and I toppled them off the canoe.
If only I had a pet wolverine — its claws would have made short work of that task. On Monday, I was parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot with my vehicle’s hood open. I was adding two quarts of motor oil to the engine when the full-fledged snowflakes turned to piercing sleet. I questioned whether my lined hoodie would keep me dry or if another layer was in order. I thought: If only I was a wolverine, I wouldn’t have to worry about which coat to wear. I can certainly relate to the wolverine when it comes to wintertime eating habits. I devoured three tuna cheese melts on Sunday. A recent dinner included pizza, pasta, heavily-buttered green beans
and garlic bread — none of which got cold before being consumed. And, I polished off an entire pint of Ben and Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in one sitting, something I have not done since I was in my 20s. While gluttonous eating does not rank high on most people’s list of aspirations, it is necessary when the temperatures drop because our bodies require more calories to stay warm and active. Perhaps, the characteristics of wolverines lie within all of us. Certainly, strength and vitality and resourcefulness are qualities that humans draw on to cope with completing outdoor chores as well as getting outdoors and relishing winter’s recreational pursuits.
Doctor, I have this pain, right about…Texas
(Continued from Page B) patients, test-crazy medicos, pharmaceuticals that charge American health consumers well above world market prices.) We hear a lot, too, about how our schools are failing. Okay, in education, the slogan is: We’re Not No. 1. Shout it from the rooftops, no sense denying it. But did you know that, in this country, our relative educational failures are
almost entirely a product of our child poverty rates? In recent international testing in math, science and reading, United States’ students finished on top — yes, we are No. 1 — if only those districts where the poverty rate is below 20% are counted. Why are our overall test scores so mediocre then? Well, we are No. 2 in the industrialized world in child poverty, edged out only by Mexico, so that naturally
drives our scores down. The UN Children’s Fund reports these international rates of child poverty: Mexico 26.2%, U.S. 22.4%, Italy 20.5%, UK 19.8%, Turkey 19.7%, Ireland 16.8%, Canada 15.5%. But when was the last time you heard Congress debating a fix for child poverty? Unless you have a long memory, never — unless it’s to deny that it’s a problem. They they’ll they cut
Head Start. Don’t believe child poverty rates have a crucial bearing on test scores? Finland and Norway, which test in the top three annually in educational assessments, have these rates of child poverty: 4.3% and 3.9%. The results are in. We’re not quite No. 1. But all we hear about is how things must be cut, how it’s government’s fault, how chopping food stamps
and long-term unemployment insurance must be only the beginning of even greater and greater measures of austerity. News alert to Washington’s Democrats and Republicans: America will never fix its most fundamental problems if your only measure of national health is how the Stock Market is doing, and your measurement of your own political acumen is the size of your next lobbyist kickback check.
Companion news alert to Americans: these jokers are right, in a basic sense: because you are also part of the nation’s fundamental problem — if you’re waiting for big business to care or for big government to help. Don’t hang around hoping the cavalry will arrive — save yourself. Personal responsibility, people. This is America. It’s every man for himself. Women and children, you’re on your own.
State police raid illegal gambling operations
(Continued from Page B) cally kick out slugs or money, and other devices which allegedly record scores entitling the winners to “over the counter payments.” Local note: Through the kindness of Mrs. Harriet Fahey of Bridgton, there has come to the desk of the editor a copy of The NEWS bearing the date of Aug. 18, 1871. The paper was found in the fam-
ily effects and was addressed to her father, the late John Johnson. One of the leading stories is entitled, “An Hour at North Bridgton,” apparently written by the editor who was evidently making a tour of the surrounding country in order to get in touch with the people and probably to pick up a subscription here and there and a few ads. The NEWS was established
in 1870 and the copy of the issue herein referred to is No. 49, of the first year of issue, with of course, H.A. Shorey, the editor and proprietor. “Spending an hour in this beautiful village last week,” says the editor of those days, “we were afforded an opportunity to look upon several of its business establishments, and were highly pleased at the activity manifested in busi-
ness matters. We dared not stop at Gould’s chemical and photographic establishment, nor at the Academy, Baileys machine shop, Osgood’s store, or Webb’s harness shop, lest we should make more than an hour’s stay, so we pushed right through the extreme northeast corner of the village where we found a brisk business of various hands carried on.” Editor’s note: Summer residents who are regular readers of The NEWS and who have been dropping in “to register for the summer,” make frequent mention of the efforts which are being made by the Chamber of Commerce and by Glover Hastings, in particular, now a registered voter of Bridgton, to stage a beautification campaign principally along Main Street, and in various other places which are frequented by the summer people. All are for it 100 per cent. Many improvements have been made in the appearance of the village street in years past, but of course even those of us who live here year round, and who have become hardened realize that there is still much to be done. Just
where to start is the problem, which confronts the most of us. If in years gone by we had adopted some sort of a building code, which would have resulted in a uniformity of architecture on the business street it would of course have been a great thing, but lacking that, generalities are of little avail. Editor’s note: The manner in which the opening program at Deertrees Theatre at Harrison is being received by the local people and the summer guests this week, and the enthusiasm, with which the new management is entering into the venture augurs well for the success of the entire season and is very pleasing not only to Harrison but to the people of the adjacent and surrounding communities. Bela Blau, the New York producer, is the director bringing a high quality of entertainment to this wonderful little theatre in the woods and is offering it to the summer people and all the year round residents at low prices as is compatible with the excellence of the personnel who make up the casts of the various plays. Mr. Blau in his
opening announcement to the people says, “The Deertrees Theatre aims to present fine plays, acted by distinguished Broadway players and a new play will be presented each Monday evening.” News item excerpt: Believe it or not, an excursion party is being made up in Chicago, Ill., for a visit to the World’s Fair in New York, which will include Bridgton, Me., in the itinerary, and a trip up over the famous Bridgton and Harrison Railway Co.’s two-foot gauge. While the main group will proceed to New York City by the regular route, a large detachment will leave the party at Albany, N.Y., and proceed to Bridgton, Maine, via the Boston and Maine, the Maine Central and the Bridgton and Harrison Railway. The Bridgton Historical Society is seeking an intern/ caretaker at Narramissic for the upcoming summer of 2014, (mid June through August, 25 hours per week). The stipend is $1,500 and includes living quarters at this historic farm in South Bridgton. Contact us at info@bridgtonhistory.org or call 647-3699 for details.