Photos from the February 15 Snowshoe Hike

On Saturday, February 15, WMSC and the Mahoosuc Land Trust co-sponsored a snowshoe hike to Flint Farm, Bob O'Brien and Michaela Casey's farm in Albany.  We had perfect conditions, and plenty of snow! We send a special thank you to Jane Chandler for sharing her photos.

Rick Churchill, trail guide, and Bob O'Brien, our host.  photo, J. Chandler

Starting up the trail.  photo, K. DeVore

Plenty of snow!  photo, K. DeVore

Jean & Brendan Bass  photo, J. Chandler

Steve Smith and Lida Iles  photo, J. Chandler

Jim Chandler and Tim Roberts   photo, K. DeVore

Tramping a peace sign in the snow.  photo, J. Chandler

Peace sign complete!  photo, J.Chandler

Conversation and refreshments at Bob and Michaela's after the hike.  photo, J. Chandler

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

A Snippet From Al Cressy

It may make a difference – Last spring, before school ended, I volunteered to work for a couple of hours with a Telstar middle school teacher on an enrichment project with her class on the subject of tree rings. I enjoyed my brief time with the students, not knowing what impact, if any, I would have with these students that I had never met before. Several weeks ago when I was on my way to attend a high school assembly, one of the middle school students that I had worked with the previous year saw me in the hallway. Upon seeing me, the student said “I remember you from last June!” We exchanged greetings and then went our separate ways. After that brief exchange, I felt that perhaps I had made a difference, even though it may have been small, in this student’s academic life. This is the reason I believe it is important for adults in the SAD44 community to have encounters with the Telstar students through the Telstar High School Community Partnership Program.

For more information on the Telstar Community Partnership and how you might participate, contact Nancy Davis, 381-1110 or nancydavis@megalink.net.

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

To Your Health: “Fat Facts About Your Blood Chemistry and What You Can Do About It”

by Barbara Dion
 

Daniel vanBuren, MD

How much do you really know about cholesterol and the many ways it affects your body? How can you effectively lower your levels to achieve a healthier lifestyle? Dr. Daniel vanBuren answered these and many other questions at the latest To Your Health offering.

Dr. vanBuren, Director of Cardiovascular Medicine at the New England Heart Institute, presented a highly informative program, explaining how our bodies produce cholesterol and its detrimental effect on our health. He explained the differences between HDL and LDL - good versus bad. High LDL levels raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other related heart problems.

There are many ways we can lower our risk factors for heart disease due to high cholesterol. Medication is often prescribed by doctors, as well as dietary changes. Avoiding foods high in saturated fat such as butter, fried foods, and cheese and replacing them with healthier choices goes a long way towards improving our levels. Exercise, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and weight control are also highly recommended.

Dr. vanBuren discussed the many different types of statin drugs that are prescribed by physicians to reduce your risk factors. He also touched on the various supplements that are often touted as helpful in reducing cholesterol and whether they are indeed effective.

All in all, the attendees left with a wealth of knowledge and maybe a little better understanding of how their bodies work. 


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

Telstar Community Partnership Requests Volunteer for Short-Term Project

by Nancy Davis
 
Did you see the article in Friday's Sun Journal about the Telstar Community Partnership? The project is moving ahead nicely, and we're looking forward to new volunteers. Would you like to help? If so, you may contact me, and I can answer your questions and get you some paperwork, including a full description of the program, a list of possible volunteer "spots," and an application form.

There is a very specific project this coming week that Telstar teacher Steve Keane would like another adult to help with; you may call me for more information. Steve will be working with 2 teams of 4 students each, competing in a contest whose winner will receive $15,000 for their school. Their task is to create a video on Distracted Driving (think texting and the like), and Steve anticipates 3 work sessions from 2:30-3:30 starting Thursday, February 13th. You need not have video skills to help out; the kids have plenty of that! (Nancy Davis, nancydavis@megalink.net or 381-1110)

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

Maine Humanities Council Brown Bag Lunch

(The following was submitted by RoseMary and Jim McLean.)

John C. Ward

Seamus Heaney

“As a result of an article in the WMSC blog, we wound up going to a brown bag lunch at the Performing Arts Center on Longfellow Square in Portland for a lecture and poetry reading on Seamus Heaney. The presenter, John Ward, a former professor of literature at Kenyon College, was clearly informed about the complex societal background in Ireland from which Heaney's poetry came. This knowledge on his part made his reading the more gripping; so did his flair as a reading artist. Very well done!”

Thanks for the vote of support, RoseMary and Jim! 

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

What's That Symbol on the Front of the Course Bulletin?

You've probably seen this symbol on the front of the Winter Course Bulletin, and you may be wondering what it is.  It's called a QR Code, and it's not unlike the bar codes that are scanned at the supermarket check out.  The difference is that when someone scans this code with a smart phone or an iPod it pulls up the WMSC blog, where they can find information about the college and its events. From now on we'll be printing this WMSC code on all our flyers, brochures and course bulletins.

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

Did You Know That...

The beginning of winter term is a good time to remember these WMSC policies designed to attract new members – and retain old ones.

A non-member may visit a single class session to see how we do things. Perhaps you have a friend who you know would enjoy a certain course. Bring that person along with you to check out the class. As a courtesy always check with the instructor first.

A non-member may take his/her first class (paying full tuition) before joining WMSC. We have several new members who joined us this winter as a result of their having taken a class in the fall.

Any member may request a sponsorship/scholarship. A sponsorship is a free membership. A scholarship is a free class. Any member may request a sponsorship and/or one scholarship per year. Contact Marvin Ouwinga (ouwingam@gouldacademy.org).

Any member of a Maine senior college may take courses at any other senior college. On the right side of this blog you will find a list of all the member colleges of the Maine Senior College Network, with links to their websites. It's interesting to see what other colleges offer!

Most WMSC members joined because of a personal contact. How did you come to join WMSC? Most of us hear of WMSC through a friend or acquaintance, so spread the word! Send your friends the link to this blog (www.wmscollege.blogspot.com) or show them a copy of the course bulletin. Invite them to the next To Your Health or Down Home Maine presentation. Our members are our greatest ambassadors!

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

Telstar Community Partnership Directory

The planning committee for the Telstar Community Partnership is happy to announce that the first directory has gone to Telstar teachers.  It's a big start for a very worthwhile project - that is, matching Telstar students and classes to community members who are willing to share a wide variety of knowledge, skills, and experiences.  How about you?  Would you like to help out in this project?  If you have questions, you  may contact Nancy Davis at 381-1110 or nancydavis@megalink.net.

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

Telstar-Community Resource Directory To Be Rolled Out This Week

As announced in the last WMSC blog, there is an ambitious project being rolled out in our community that you may be interested in supporting. The first edition of the Telstar-Community Resource Directory will be shared with Telstar teachers when they return to school this week. The intent of the Resource Directory is to provide an awareness of the community’s educational resources available to Telstar teachers and students by connecting them to citizens of SAD44 communities who wish to share their education, experiences, and interests to enhance curricular and co-curricular activities.

Please note that this is the first iteration of the directory, and a great deal of effort is going into expanding on this beginning list. We hope you'll be interested in helping! Several WMSC members are part of the Partnership's advisory committee. There is much more information available, including a sign-up sheet to help Al Cressy add people to the directory. Please consider helping in this exemplary project and give me a buzz if you'd like more information. Nancy Davis, 381-1110, nancydavis@megalink.org.

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

Telstar-Community Partnership Coming to SAD44

We hope our WMSC members will be interested in the new Telstar-Community Partnership that is in the formative stages. The hope is to provide educational resources to Telstar teachers and students by connecting citizens of SAD44 communities who wish to share their education, experiences, and interests to enhance curricular and co-curricular activities. Please note - you may be the perfect candidate!  Perhaps you have an area you'd be willing to share with one or more young people.  You don't have to be an expert; some kind of knowledge or interest or talent - and a willing attitude - are what we're looking for.  A lot of groundwork has already taken place, and we hope to begin this project soon, but after the holiday season.   If you feel you might be interested, even if you're not sure how you would fit in, feel free to contact Nancy Davis (nancydavis@megalink.net; 381-1110).  More details will follow after the holiday season!

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