"Good Meals in 30 Minutes or Less" Both Informative and Fun

by Barb Dion

Once again, the To Your Health program of Western Mountains Senior College presented another informative and fun program, “Good Meals in Thirty Minutes or Less.”

Chef Elton Cole

Chef Elton Cole and Stephens Memorial Hospital Registered Dietician Pat Watson educated the large crowd on the many ways to create healthy and tasty meals, with the emphasis on fresh and seasonal ingredients.  

Chef Cole spoke about food safety when preparing meals, touching on the proper utensils to use (plastic vs. wood), cleaning of cutting boards, and the correct way to defrost meats. He also demonstrated the best ways to cut vegetables and emphasized knife safety. Mr. Cole offered delicious dishes for tasting including couscous, pear muffins, and a chicken and vegetable dish prepared in a wok. 

Cooking lesson

Pat Watson suggested the various reasons people eat, including habit, pleasure, hunger, and stress (emotional eating). She spoke about the importance of a well-balanced diet. Healthier choices would be fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned, which tend to be high in sodium. 

Judy Whitman, Pat Watson, and Rosabelle Tifft

 Pat spoke about creating a healthy plate, with the emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein foods. Portion size is also very important, as well as avoiding foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar, all which can trigger a variety of health problems. She provided a number of healthy and varied recipes that are quick and easy to prepare.

 

”Good Mind : Good Mood,” the final To Your Health offering of the year, will be held on Thursday, April 11, from 4:30-6:00 pm at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. Mark your calendars!

photos by Barb Dion

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

Down Home Maine Presentation: Pilgrimage to the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku

by Bonnie Pooley

 

Toshio Hashimoto is truly a renaissance man. Not only is he an auto mechanic of great repute, a shitake mushroom grower, a Taiko drummer, and a Mahoosuc Mountain Rescue Team member, but he is also a lifelong, devout Shignon Buddhist. On March 4, Toshio spoke to a packed auditorium at Gould Academy about his pilgrimage around the Japanese island of Shikoku.

Toshio Hashimoto on his journey

He told his rapt audience, first, why he decided in March of 2011 to make a 670-mile pilgrimage to visit the 88 temples around the perimeter of Shikoku Island. When Toshio was born two months prematurely in his rural home 62 years ago, no one thought he would survive. His mother and all of her friends and neighbors prayed fervently to Kobo Daishi, the 9th century founder of their branch of Buddhism. When Toshio thrived, he owed lifelong gratitude to Kobo Daishi, and he made this pilgrimage to express his gratitude.

Toshio and statue of Kobo Daishi

Toshio next showed pictures and told stories of his 38-day walking journey and the rituals he performed at each of the 88 temples. The audience was moved by his openness in speaking of his sincere and devout Buddhist beliefs. Toshio told of the beauty of the shrines and the rural countryside. At times, he walked with a view of the Pacific Ocean; at other times, he climbed and descended endless mountains. We also saw pictures of the terrible blisters on his toes, the bus shelters in which he sometimes slept, and the vending machines where he often got his food and drink. 

With one of many fellow pilgrims

There were stories of fellow pilgrims, each with his story of why he was making this journey. And we saw the breathtaking loveliness of the coming of spring in Japan, cherry blossoms and all. Toshio said that, when he reached the 88th temple, he had a feeling of pure ecstasy, the emotion that Buddhists call nirvana, of having reached heaven on this earth. He hopes to make this pilgrimage again when he reaches 70 years old. 

Cherry blossoms in spring

Toshio’s talk once again proved that these western mountains of Maine harbor rich and multi-faceted hidden gems, one of which can often be found with his eyes peering into a Subaru engine.

One of the 88 shrines

photos by Toshio Hashimoto

 
Thanks to Herb and Paula Gross for producing and hosting this event.  Herb and Paula helped Toshio sort and organize his photos, sifting through more than 1000 pictures to arrive at the 200 slides in the presentation.


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

Photos from the 8th Annual WMSC Soup Swap

by Barb Dion

Social Diners

Laurence Austin

The 8th Annual Western Mountains Senior College Soup Swap was a big success! Thirty-six members enjoyed a wide variety of delicious soups and homemade breads and desserts.

The course registration table, manned by Lauren Gailitis and Kathleen DeVore, was a very popular spot, as members signed up for the next round of fun and informative courses. Artwork by the talented members of the Drawing and Painting class was on display as were written selections from the Creative Writing students.

Nancy Davis welcoming the attendees

Soup Swap organizer Marvin Ouwinga

Marcia Foster-Austin, reading her story

 President Nancy Davis welcomed everyone to the event and thanked Marvin Ouwinga for all his hard work organizing the soup swap. Nancy recognized members of the Drawing and Painting and Creative Writing classes who shared their work. She then introduced the new members of the college and thanked the Board of Directors, the Program and Communication Committees, Senior College Players, and the To Your Health and Down Home Maine 

Ruth Barrett, reading "Parachuting"

committees for all they do. All teachers and course facilitators were recognized and thanked for their contributions. Nancy briefly touched on the 10th Anniversary Celebration “Bridging the Generations” that is being planned for this May.
 
The evening was then turned over to a group of Creative Writing students who shared their diverse and interesting creations. Writings were presented by Ruth Barrett, Jim Bebko, Marcia Foster-Austin, Scott Hynek, and Barb Dion.

Artwork by Elise Caswell

Artwork by Karen Mills

 photos by Barb Dion

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

Photos from Saturday's Snowshoe Trek with Rick Churchill

On Saturday, February 16, thirty energetic people spent a pleasant two hours walking in the woods on snowshoes.  This outing, led by resident naturalist Rick Churchill, was co-sponsored by WMSC and the Mahoosuc Land Trust. 

Rick Churchill and his snowshoes, old and new.

Starting up the trail.

Climbing to the top.

Bonnie Pooley (photo by Jane Chandler)

Jane Chandler and Jean Bass

Diane McMahon

photos by K. DeVore

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

Gaining a Better Understanding of Heart Disease in Women

by Lorrie Hoeh 

Dr. vanBuren speaks with Kay Larson.  photo R. Tifft

On Thursday, February 7, there was another presentation in WMSC's “To Your Health” series entitled “Women and Heart Disease." Those of us who attended were treated to an excellent and informative presentation by Dr. Daniel E. vanBuren, M.D., of the New England Heart Institute and Androscoggin Valley Hospital.

The speaker told of how women have too often been ignored in the study of heart disease, which has long been thought of as a man’s disease.  Moreover, women presenting with symptoms of cardiac problems are often not treated with the same vigor as men presenting similar symptoms.  Also reviewed were the various statistics of cardiovascular disease, especially that it is the leading cause of death in women.  Dr. vanBuren then presented graphic descriptions of what goes on in a heart attack and what can be done to prevent it, emphasizing the importance of diet, exercise, and stress management.

The audience came away with a better understanding of heart disease, its prevention, and intervention protocols.

Dr. vanBuren was introduced by Rosabelle Tifft, who also reminded us of two upcoming “To Your Health” programs, “Good Meals: in 30 Minutes or Less” on March 21, and “Good Mind--Good Mood” on April 11, both in keeping with the theme of “keeping your glass half full.” 


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

Spotlight on "The Odyssey"

by Jim McLean

If the endless saga, spellbinding and harrowing, of Lindsay Lohan, girl alcoholic, star-crossed by the gods of booze, gives zest to your routine day, you should know what a bunch of us is presently involved in. We're reading the tale of wily Odysseus, “man of twists and turns,” who led the Greek victory at Troy, a ten-year war which finally ended when he came up with the idea of the wooden horse. Returning home after the fight is what soldiers do, but long-suffering Odysseus did not have an easy journey. He's been traveling for more than nine years now, seven spent as prisoner in the luxurious cave of the nymph Calypso. Freed at last, fearless Odysseus sets out by sea (the “wine-dark sea”) on the remaining short distance home. But real, real troubles lie ahead – Circe, and Scylla and Charybdis, and the one-eyed Cyclops, and the easily offended god Poseidon, who when irritated sends raging storms and waves to batter struggling Odysseus. We twelve readers know that these dreadful hardships await. We also know that cunning Odysseus will overcome them all and at last reach home (after twenty years away!) and his faithful and long-suffering wife Penelope.

That's not quite the end of this glorious tale, however. Proud Odysseus still has to deal with the dissolute suitors who for a few years have been living in his palace, consuming his food and drink, and bugging his burdened wife to marry one or the other of them. And, boy, does he ever deal with those unfortunate souls!

What makes this course even more enjoyable is Lucia Owen's experienced guidance of the class. The story is long, crammed with people and places and dramatic doings, and sprinkled with capricious gods. Lucia has made order of all that, and showed the parallels with our own time and place and lives. She has considered the literary structure of this epic (“The Odyssey”) and discussed what is known of the long-ago author, Homer, among the greatest of all poets. With her leadership, it has all been delightful – and we still have two more sessions to go!

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

A Sampling of Art Work from WMSC's Drawing and Painting Class (Fall 2012)

"Waiting for Spring"
Joe Arizzi

"Summer's Done" 
 Kathleen DeVore

"Gourdon Lightfoot"

  Cathy Howe 

"A Day of Gourds"

Judy Huber

"Winter Flowers"
Victoria Meisner

 
"Brown Jug with Bittersweet"
Bonnie Pooley

"Rocks and Flowers"
Jackie VanLeuven

photos by Joe Arizzi

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

Senior College Players Performances a Hit with Audiences

By Rosabelle Tifft

Senior College Players performed two holiday favorites this fall as a Christmas gift to the community. Two matinees and two evening performances delighted a total of nearly 150 persons in attendance.

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” by Dylan Thomas, was a sparkling rendition of this classic, with performers reading, acting and inviting the audience to join them in song.

"Memories of a Wonderful Life,” by Jonathan M. Zaley, a Christmas comedy that added an audience-friendly twist to this holiday classic, was also performed. Lynn Arizzi, Director, said audience members could relate this play to the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Players took the audience through the story with all its famous characters asking some audience members to join them on stage and play some of the characters. All audience members joined in the singing of well-known favorite songs.

This successful holiday event proved to be fun and enjoyable for both the Players and audiences as well. As one audience member said, “It was a very special evening of joy and entertainment for everyone.” 

Roberta Taylor, Mary Jane Shiverick (from audience)

Roberta Taylor, Tineka Ouwinga, Mary-Ellen Gartner, Rosabelle Tifft, Carol Campbell, Lainey Cross, Mary Jane Shiverick

Audience volunteer Lainey Cross plays the taxi driver with Roberta Taylor as George Bailey and Mary-Ellen Gartner as Mary, his wife.

Lorrie Hoeh as Mr. Welch, Roberta Taylor as George Bailey, and David Shiverick (from audience) as Martini's Tavern owner.

Audience members Marilyn Sahlberg (babysitting for Mary Bailey), Amy Davis, and Carolyn Gould.

 Photos by Joe Arizzi

This article also appears in the January issue of the Maine Senior College Network Newsletter 

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

WMSC Holiday Party

by Barb Dion

On Thursday, December 6, WMSC celebrated the season with our annual Holiday Party at the historic Dr. Moses Mason House. Those lucky to attend were treated to a large variety of holiday treats and the fellowship of our amazing members. The highlight of the evening was the singing of traditional Christmas carols, led by Nancy Davis and accompanied by the musical talents of Dan Johnson and Kathleen DeVore.  Judy Whitman, her co-chairman Rosabelle Tifft, and their committee had decorated the room with festive lights which, along with the welcoming glow of the fireplace, added to the ambiance of the evening. 

Ellen Crocker and Rosemary McClean

Barb Dion and Rosabelle Tifft

Karen Bean, Roberta Taylor and Rosemary McLean

Carolers: Marcia Foster-Austin, Carlie Casey, Laurence Austin, Charlene Chase, Scott Hynek and Kay Larson

Dan Johnson, Kathleen DeVore and Judy Whitman

Nancy Davis

photos by Barb Dion 

The WMSC Blog will be on vacation until January 1. Best wishes to all for a Happy Chanukah, Joyous Solstice, Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year!

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

WMSC Drawing and Painting Class Teams Up With Telstar Middle School Art

The same directions were given to the students in WMSC's Drawing and Painting Class and the students in Telstar Middle School's Advanced Art Class: "Create an original two-dimensional artwork inspired by 'movement,' but only finish it half-way."  After both groups completed this first step, they traded projects and finished each other's work.  Then, on Friday, November 16, the two groups met together to title the artworks, price them, and prepare them for display at the TMS ArtReach Student Art Show and Sale.
 



 
ArtReach is TMS Advanced Art's annual service-learning project.  This year the middle school students chose to focus their ArtReach project on helping and working with senior citizens in our area.  In addition to the collaboration with WMSC's art class, the Telstar students did oral history interviews, investigated issues important to seniors, and worked with adults and elders on musical collaborations.

The ArtReach Jamboree & Student Art Sale held last Thursday, December 6, featured a student art exhibit and sale, a showcase of service-learning projects connecting youth and elders, and a Jamboree concert focusing on the musical expression of older generations.  Our WMSC Holiday Party conflicted with the Jamboree concert, but for those of us who missed it, Melissa Prescott has posted a YouTube video of the flash mob the middle school students staged.  Check it out - it's really cool!

TMS Flashmob!

Proceeds from the event were given to the Oxford County Meals on Wheels program.

Photos taken by Joe Arizzi at the November 16 students/seniors get-together
 

 

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