Thank You, Lin Chapman!

by Kathleen DeVore

Lin Chapman

If you've ever gone into the Adult Education office at Telstar you've probably spoken with Lin Chapman. She's the woman who sits at the desk by the windows, managing the fiscal affairs of WMSC, helping solve audio/visual challenges in the classroom, and so much more.

After 24 years of working with SAD 44, Lin is retiring. On Friday, June 14, the Adult Ed staff invited all of us to an informal coffee/ lunch to say thanks to Lin.

Lin chatting with Lorrie Hoeh, other WMSC members in background

We aren't really saying goodbye, as she will still be working in the office one day a week, and as Lin said on Friday, she's only a telephone call away. I believe that someone even mentioned the word “Skype.” (Watch out, Lin, those words may come back to haunt you!) 

Mary Leimbach, Peter Gartner, Roberta Taylor and Mary-Ellen Gartner

When asked what she would be doing now that she's retired Lin said she looks forward to having more time to devote to all the projects she's involved with already. We're hoping that she also has time to add a WMSC course or two to the mix.

Thank you, Lin, for all you've done for us over the years.

Adult Education's Fantastic Four: Lin Chapman, Lois Ruff, Jeanie Waite and Lauren Gailitis

photos by Kathleen DeVore 

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Western Maine Passport to the Arts

With the approach of summer it seems timely to once again mention the Western Maine Passport to the Arts, your ticket to the visual and performing arts. For a purchase price of $20 you will receive discounts on tickets, art, meals and lodging, a $300 value.

Some of the nearby performing arts venues offering discounted tickets include Arts Institute of Western Maine (Farmington), Art Moves (Norway), Brick Church for the Performing Arts (Lovell), Celebration Barn Theater (South Paris), 49 Franklin (Rumford), Kingfield Pops, June 29 (Kingfield), Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center (Fryeburg), Mahoosuc Arts Council (Bethel), and Skye Theater (South Carthage).

Galleries taking part in the program include Artistic Endeavors (Bethel), Bonnema Pottery (Bethel), Elements Art Gallery (Bethel), Gallery 302 (Bridgton), Frost Farm Gallery (Norway), Harvest Gold Gallery (Lovell), and Painted Mermaid (South Paris).

Business associates of the Passport offer discounts as well. Some local and nearby businesses include 76 Pleasant Street (Norway), The Bethel Inn Resort (Bethel), Good Food Store and Catering Company (Bethel), King's Hill Inn (South Paris), Restaurant Maurice (South Paris), River View Resort (Bethel), Rooster's Roadhouse (Bethel), Ruthie's Boutique/Bethel Village Motel (Bethel), Tucker's Pub (Norway), and True North Adventureware (Bethel).

If you frequent any of these venues, galleries, or business associates you might benefit from purchasing a Passport to the Arts. They can be purchased at any of the arts organizations or businesses listed above.

The Western Maine Passport to the Arts is sponsored by the Western Maine Arts Collaborative and is underwritten in part by a grant from the Maine Lakes & Mountains Tourism Council.  For more information go to Passport to the Arts.

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college

Remembering Carol Brearley

Carol Brearley

by Ellen Crocker and Marcia Foster-Austin

(Carol Brearley, member of WMSC and the Board of Directors, died on May 26, 2013. Ellen Crocker and Marcia Foster-Austin share some of their memories.) 

The first time Carol came to our Creative Writing class we went around the table and, as was our wont, read aloud a piece we had written. When Carol’s turn came, she shuffled through a few loose hand-written papers, pulled one out, and shyly read a poem. There was a stunned silence, and finally someone blurted out in awe, “Where did you come from?”

When we asked further, “No, she had not published these poems…” She had not even compiled them or typed them up because she truly did not know they were extraordinary. She had an exquisite talent to capture a vista, a sentiment, a moment in her life that resonated and touched us all. 

When a few of us went to visit her after she became sick, she was her gracious self, but still incredibly humble and unaware of the power of her writing. She did agree that she would allow us to gather some of her work and make it available to a larger audience. We hope we will soon be able to share some of her gems with you. 

Carol had been an athlete, and in earlier days she beat Ellen handily on the tennis court. But also on the tennis court she was tactful, merciful, and fun. She was grateful for the kindness of friends and of her ex-husband (and good friend) Gary and his partner Susie.

Carol came into our lives for a short time; we wish that we had had more time to share with her. She will be missed and fondly remembered as a woman and poet. 

For more information about Western Mountains Senior College visit our website at http://sad44.maineadulted.org/western_mountains_senior_college