Mahoosuc Land Trust 25th Anniversary Photo/Art/Writing Celebration

The Mahoosuc Land Trust is looking for those special photographs, original art works or written works that express the natural beauty of the Mahoosuc Region. Please share your work with the Mahoosuc Land Trust Community to celebrate our 25th Anniversary! We will be displaying all entries and having a Grand Showing on Saturday, September 27th from 11am – 5 pm at the Land Trust Office as part of the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend.

There will be prizes for photographs, original art, and written works in three age categories (12 and under, 13-18 and 19+). There is a $10 donation entry fee for the oldest age group.

Entry details: Photos should be matted, at a minimum, and may be framed. Original art should be exhibit-ready. Stories should be one typed page (max) and attached to a stiff backing. Entries should be dropped off at the Mahoosuc Land Trust Office by Wednesday, September 17th. Mail entries are also accepted. Any or all submissions may be eligible for inclusion in the 25th Mahoosuc Land Trust Anniversary Book. Information and pre-orders for the book will follow. Entrants are welcomed to sell their submissions at the show. More details on www.mahoosuc.org 

The Mahoosuc Land Trust is an accredited community land trust encouraging public interest in conservation in central Oxford County, Maine, and eastern Coos County, NH, supporting a balance between growth and conservation and emphasizing sustainable and traditional land uses. For more information visit www.mahoosuc.org or call 207-824-3806. 

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

WMSC Visits Bates Art Museum

by Wendy Hutchins

What a lovely way to spend a rainy summer day! Under the direction of Kathleen DeVore, several members of WMSC, along with a few guests, ventured to the Bates College Museum of Art. While there, the docent guided us through the two current exhibits: Convergence: Jazz, Films, and the Visual Arts, and Encountering Maine. Both collections were inspirational, to say the very least.

 

The Convergence show offers the viewer many different media which include sculpture, wood cuts, silk screen prints, multi-media collages and more, all depicting the African influence on our music, films and visual art. 

Encountering Maine, while containing a similar variety of art forms, features works by Maine artists or artists with a relationship to Maine, or works that includes part of Maine as a subject. For most of us, the highlight of the exhibit was the stunning, original watercolor of Andrew Wyeth, “Master Bedroom,” which is on long-term loan to the museum through the generosity of Wyeth’s granddaughter, who is a graduate of Bates.

After a wonderful few hours of steeping in the arts, the group put the finishing touch to a grand day by having a fabulous lunch at Davinci’s in the old Bates Mill complex! How appropriate!

Both exhibits will be running throughout the summer, so if you find yourself in Lewiston be sure to check them out. (Bates Museum of Art 207-786-6158)

Anthony, our docent, explains Faith Ringgold's Jazz Stories: Mama Can Sing, Papa Can Blow #4, 2004   photo Denise Hurd

Sonié Joi Ruffin-Thompson, Strange Fruit, 2010   photo Denise Hurd

Close-up of Strange Fruit   photo Denise Hurd

Andrew Wyeth, Master Bedroom, 1965   photo Google Images

 

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

 

Senior College Players Gearing up for Fall

by Rosabelle Tifft
 
Have you always wanted to act but were not sure if you could? Or wondered about memorizing a script, or performing in front of an audience, let alone talk? If so, Senior College Players is the place to be. And don’t worry about memorizing three acts of Shakespeare because you can always carry a script. (Though it might make a sword fight a tad awkward!) We do require you have the time of your life taking on the persona of someone else and having fun becoming that character in a play – that’s a MUST!

We are in the process of selecting plays for our annual fall class and performance, “The Senior Fa(o)llies.” You can get complete details at the class registration on September 3, to be held in conjunction with the WMSC Annual Meeting. We truly hope to see you there.

Characters in a scene from one of last year’s plays, “Who Murdered Who:”  Jim McLean, Rosabelle Tifft, Mark Antell and Lorrie Hoeh. Plans are underway to produce three comedy plays for this fall’s performance.        photo L. Hoeh

 

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

Photos from "Yellowstone in Winter"

The following photos are from Lynne Zimmerman's May 20th Down Home Maine presentation. Lynne and her husband Roger lead cross country skiing trips in Yellowstone National Park.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with Lower Falls

Hot spring in Geyser Basin

Old Faithful

Appalachian Mountain Club group led by Roger & Lynne

Mammoth Hot Springs

View from Mammoth Hot Springs looking toward hotel

photos by Roger Zimmerman

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

WMSC Has a Facebook Page!

We are on Facebook! We're hoping to let those in our community who are not (yet) members know what we're all about. If you are a Facebook user, please go to our page and “like” us. Then, invite all your Facebook friends who you think should know about the college to like WMSC as well. To get to the WMSC Facebook page click https://www.facebook.com/westernmountainsseniorcollege. It's amazing how fast the word can spread! 

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

Photos from the Spring Drawing and Painting Class

Suzanne Taylor, class facilitator, gives suggestions to Freda Davis and Roma Wilson as they sketch a still life.    photo Lee Smith

Harriet Gilpatrick, Wendy Hutchins, Denise Hurd and Pam Berry concentrate on their work.  Harriet sketches the small toy pig and Wendy the crock of flowers, while  Denise paints an off-camera still life and Pam Berry consults a reference on drawing. Working simultaneously on a variety of projects is typical of our open studio class, which is open to all, from the beginner to the experienced artist.   photo Lee Smith

Diane McMahon draws a small turtle; Kathleen DeVore works on painting folds of fabric.  photo Lee Smith

By special request Pam Berry, a retired middle school art teacher, leads a class on color mixing.  photo Wendy Hutchins

The class follows Pam's instructions for making a color wheel.  photo Wendy Hutchins

Freda and Roma work on their color wheels while Pam looks on.  photo Wendy Hutchins

Denise shows the class her watercolor "The Pussy Willows."   photo Lee Smith

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

Telstar Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

by Nancy Davis 

Remember the Telstar-Community Partnership mentioned in past blogs? It’s a network of THS staff members and local community resource people working together to provide educational resources to Telstar teachers and students. The planning committee has compiled both a list of needs as identified by Telstar teachers and a directory of local citizens who wish to share their education, experiences, and interests to enhance curricular and co-curricular activities. Well, so far only a handful of you WMSC members have volunteered for the resource list, and we know there are more of you very talented people out there! Won’t you join Al Cressy, Nancy Davis, Jim Bebko, Ruth Bebko, Lee Smith and Steve Smith on the list? (There are, of course, non-WMSC folks on the list as well.)

We will be gearing up during the summer for the fall term, hoping to match up teacher needs and volunteer willingness. In the meantime, the Partnership team sponsored a luncheon on May 1 to thank Telstar High School staff for their dedicated efforts with students. It was a lot of fun, both for teachers and for community members William Andrews, Allen Cressy, Rosemary Laban, Nancy Davis, Mike Broderick, Rick Churchill, Rodney Harrington, Bruce Edwards, and Jim Bebko.

Remember, the ways you might be able to help out are limitless; just a few: giving talks, consulting with teachers on projects, serving as chaperones on educational tours, arranging visits to cultural institutions, tutoring individual students, and offering other kinds of educational support. Community members who wish to help in these endeavors may contact Allen Cressy for more information or to be added to the Resource Directory (ajcressy@megalink.net or 824-0508).

Here are a few photos taken by Rick Churchill at the Telstar Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

William Andrews giving welcome remarks, with Rodney Harrington in plaid.

Volunteers Al Cressy and Bruce Edwards, with THS teacher John Eliot.

Volunteer Nancy Davis talking with teacher Susan Owens, Mike Broderick and Bruce Edwards in the background.

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

First WMSC Brown Bag a Success

By Lee Smith

Marvin Ouwinga, Karen Mills and Nancy Davis   (photo L. Smith)

An outstanding Brown Bag “course” on Islam was guided by Marvin Ouwinga on April 17. In only 90 minutes Marvin masterfully presented a Reader’s Guide version of the development of the religion, the split between Sunni and Shia, and the epitome of Islamic culture hundreds of years ago, and introduced the present-day relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims, with wide variance across the globe. The 15 participants (including some from the Norway area) were quite engaged, resulting in interesting discussion, especially regarding the potential for the future – either continued schism between the West and Islam or moderation and accommodation. The Bethel Inn had graciously opened their library, an excellent setting with good acoustics and comfortable seating. There was general agreement that the Brown Bag format was an excellent one and that there should be additional ones. Watch next fall for the second in the series, which is open to the public free of charge. If you have any ideas for topics or facilitators, you may contact Nancy Davis (nancydavis@megalink.net; 207-381-1110). We are looking for current topics or other discussion themes that may be suggested - as this one was - by a popular WMSC class.

Some of the Brown Bag attendees  (photo L. Smith)

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

Bladder Health and Changes: From Sneezes to Kegles

by Rosabelle Tifft

Speaker Cathy Heffernan

Cathy Heffernan, CNM, MSN, told an audience of over two dozen women at a recent To Your Health program that bladder control issues are not a normal part of aging. Cathy, a Certified Midwife with a Master’s Degree in Nursing, has over 30 years’ experience in women’s health care.

In her talk, Cathy explained what women need to know about their bladders. She discussed risk factors for incontinence or prolapse and different types of remedies that medicine might offer. She emphasized that strength is the foundation for good bladder health. Pelvic muscle exercises, known as “kegels,” are resistance exercises for preventive care or problems, and women should follow them regularly for good bladder health. Cathy explained how women can learn to do these exercises, how often they should be done, and how they can help with bladder issues. She also covered other interventions beyond kegels.

As indicated in the evaluations, the program was well received by participants who found it very interesting and educational. An up-to-date reprint covering kegel exercises was available for participants; additional copies of this handout are available in the Adult Ed Office at Telstar for interested persons unable to attend.

The program was sponsored by To Your Health of WMSC with the collaboration of Bethel Family Health Center and MSAD#44 Adult Education.

Ellen Crocker introduces TYH program

Rosabelle Tifft, Judy Whitman, Cathy Heffernan, Ellen Crocker and Jan Stowell

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

Mozart’s Great Mass in C

by Iris Roberts 

Although Mozart’s works are among my all-time favorites, I have never developed an interest in the history of his ouvre. However, after having attended Tom Davis’s introduction to the “Great Mass in C Minor” and then attending the live presentation of the mass at the Franco Center in Lewiston on March 30, I feel a new page turning in my own education that is most satisfying.

Tom placed Mozart in context with Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Beethoven. This overview was helpful in identifying influences on Mozart. As we listened to a recording, there they were, unmistakably: Bach, Vivaldi and Handel! Tom also helped us to understand how deeply spiritual the whole was, and how innovative using brass instruments was for a church work at that time. The very structure of the whole was an amalgam of a missa brevis and a "high mass,” with the text from the Ordinary alone but written with a grand sound intended—with double chorus, solo instruments, four soloists, and the insertion of a pastoral dance style into the Credo. Perhaps this overabundance of innovation is what caused the piece to be misunderstood in Mozart’s time and why it was never finished.

I was entranced by the recording and Tom’s presentation, and could hardly wait for the live performance! Recalling the movie Amadeus, I did wonder whether the several reverences to “too many notes” in that film would apply to this composition, performed live.

The Franco Center was more enchanting than I expected. With ascending theater seats filling what had once been a church’s nave, the whole area was filled with natural light. What a lovely, interesting performance venue for a rainy New England Sunday in early spring! At the appointed time, members of the Androscoggin Chorale filed into the former chancel to join the Maine Music Society Chamber Orchestra. As soloists took their seats, an air of anticipation filed the place, and after generous applause for sponsors, director John Corrie entered. He radiated warmth, approachable confidence, and knowledge. His remarks about the work reinforced what we had learned earlier.

The baton went up, and this wonderful director, channeling all those notes into a whole of so many harmonious complexities, gave an uplifting glimpse into one of the greatest musical minds ever. I felt that Mozart was sending his very soul to reach for something beyond himself, and this director and these musicians took the audience with them to that place. They sustained an intensity from the softest pianissimo to the most powerful forte. This shared emotional connection is what makes live performances so fulfilling. The audience’s only response: a spontaneous standing ovation to express our return gift of appreciation to the director and the performers.

How fortunate we are in Western Maine to have opportunities like this! I, and I’m sure many others, hold the deepest appreciation for so many people who, collectively, made this beautiful afternoon possible. 


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