Welcome to WMSC's Newest Board Member, Steve Smith

A special meeting of the WMSC membership was held last Tuesday, November 18 to elect Steven Smith to the WMSC Board.

Steve says that in 1988, after skiing Sunday River in the era of “T2,” he, his wife Lee, and their two daughters began constructing their vacation/retirement home on the shores of Songo Pond. They retired to their Songo Pond home in 2012.

Steve retired in 1995 from 30+ years working in independent and public schools, including a high school principalship in Topsfied, MA. He then began consulting with an international educational firm, which he continues to do on a VERY limited basis, allowing more time for skiing, biking, and sailing! Steve holds an A.B in Biology from Franklin and Marshall College and an M.Ed in Educational Administration and Biology from Tufts University. He is a member of the Bethel Rotary Club, serves on the board of the Mahoosuc Land Trust, and is a member of the WMSC Program Committee. Thank you, Steve, for joining the WMSC board.

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

The Basics of Alzheimer's Disease

by Roberta Taylor

On November 6, William J. Kirkpatrick, Licensed Social Worker and Program Director for the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, presented a follow-up session on Alzheimer’s Disease at the West Parish Congregational Church. (For a review of the first session see Large Group Attends Session on Alzheimer's Disease.) This was a very informative and valuable presentation, with audience members asking numerous questions.

Linda Mc Donough and William Kirkpatrick      photo Rosabelle Tifft

Mr. Kirkpatrick stated that at least 5,000,000 people in the United States are at some stage of the disease - early, middle, or late. Explaining that Alzheimer’s Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in our country, he presented a number of facts concerning the disease, with the above being most surprising to many.

Mr. Kirkpatrick spoke of the four major risk factors for the disease, the highest being age: 90% of those people with the disease are over 60. Three additional risk factors are health status, environment, and genetics. The focus of future research, he said, will be on drugs and early detection.

Along with detailed information concerning the disease, Mr. Kirkpatrick encouraged us to learn even more by contacting www.alz.org/maine and other resources. He alerted the audience to a 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900), which offers information and referral services, support groups, safety services, advocacy, and education programs.

This is a very important topic, as evidenced by the high number of people who attended both sessions. People with Alzheimer’s Disease, care-givers, family, and the general population should pay close attention to helping combat this disease.


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

Senior College Players to Present “Out the Window”

by Rosabelle Tifft

Be prepared for an evening of fun and laughter as the Senior College Players present their annual performance, ”We Hope We Passed the Audition,” on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22, at the Gould Academy Trustees Auditorium. Three comedy plays to be performed include: “Identity Crisis,” “Out the Window,” and “The Mad Breakfast.”

What do you get when you put a boring, lazy husband in the proximity of a strong-minded wife and an overly wishful mother? Reality! Watch how Lorrie Hoeh, Barbara Dion, and Ross Timberlake deal with this classic brow-beating ritual in the comedy, “Out the Window.”

Lorrie Hoeh, Ross Timberlake and Barbara Dion                photo Lorrie Hoeh

 The cast and antics of the final comedy, “The Mad Breakfast,” will be included in the next issue of the blog.

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