Remembering Mark Vail

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Mark Vail, who died on April 20 after a short illness. Mark became a member of WMSC several years ago when he joined the Great Decisions class. Mark was an active participant in that class, and he will be missed. We send our condolences to his family.

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

Joyful Living

by Barb Dion

If you missed the Joyful Living program last week, you missed one of the best To Your Health programs offered! The highly entertaining trio of Ellen Crocker, Jewel Clark, and Karen Swanson kept the large audience laughing and on their toes – sometimes even literally.

Jewel Clark, Karen Swanson and Ellen Crocker   photo B. Dion

Ellen opened by giving her unique perspectives on life and aging. She spoke about the challenges of achieving joy and what we can do to enhance our lives. At our ages, we all have our own individual challenges but have the ability of taking charge of our lives. Don’t fret over regrets – get over them! Stop saving our best things for special occasions – use that fancy china and celebrate the ordinary times of our lives. Realize that the happier you are, the more you have to give to others.

Jewel Clark had the audience yodeling (yes, yodeling!) and clapping to the sounds of her musical offerings. She talked about the legacy her parents left and the influence it had on her life. She shared songs she has written and had everyone yodeling, even when we didn’t realize we were doing it at first. It was a lively and entertaining interlude and lifted everyone’s spirits.

Yoga instructor Karen Swanson had us stretching and relaxing and learning to embrace our inner selves. Once we were relaxed, she played music and encouraged us to dance to the beat both by ourselves and with a partner. This was a wonderful way to end the evening and we all left relaxed and happy!

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

Ed Knox on the Modern Middle East and More

by Scott Hynek 

Ed Knox, former CIA bureau chief and former history professor, spoke much like the latter on March 31 in describing the modern Middle East and how it came to be. Always important as the collection of land trade routes connecting Europe and Asia, it was how England got soldiers to and from India without going around the Cape of Good Hope, until the Suez Canal was built. He used a Peters projection map to show just how huge Africa really is, with a land area equal to that of China plus the USA plus India plus others.

Ed Knox described how Mohammad created community out of warring Arab tribes by promoting the five pillars of Islam – Acceptance of God (with himself as messenger), Prayer, Giving of Alms, Ramadan and the Hadj – all of which promote unity among Muslims (the schism between Sunni and Shia started later). He also described Mohammad as an enlightened conqueror.

He spoke of today's ungoverned areas (Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia and Venezuela) mostly anecdotally. He described our overthrowing Saddam as a terrible decision, allowed as how there is not much government in northern Nigeria, and described Venezuela as a narco-state. He sees Iraq as well along to becoming three separate (and weak) countries, even more subject to international meddling. Curiously, Ed Knox does not regard ISIS as significant as our sensationalist press would make it seem.

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

To Your Health – Supermarket Strategies

by Barb Dion

Once again, Cathi DiCocoa has managed to give her audience another fun and informative program. Are you wondering why your local supermarket is set up the way it is? It’s all in the science - the presence of beautiful flowers and fresh produce tend to give shoppers a comfortable and happy feeling. She also said that the layout of the store is planned to have the most profitable items, produce, deli, and meat counters on the perimeters.

Cathi DiCocoa, working her magic.  photo Barb Dion

Cathi also spoke about the importance of reading labels on everything you purchase. For example, did you know that the order of ingredients listed on the label show the highest to the lowest? She showed us a can of corn that was only corn and water, which meant that the highest ingredient was the corn itself. Nutrition labels have recently changed to reflect the way Americans eat today.

Some of her helpful hints included not going to the grocery store hungry, always buy organic if possible, and compare unit prices on different brands of the same item. She also said it is very important to thoroughly wash all fresh fruit and vegetables.

 The highlight of the evening was the delicious Mexican Stew that she prepared from scratch, all while keeping up her lively presentation!
 

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

Ian Blair and the TED Global Conference in Rio

by Lorrie Hoeh

Ian Blair  photo Lorrie Hoeh

One mystery was solved for the dozen and a half or so attendees at Ian Blair's talk on March 4 about his experience at TED Global South in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from October 6 through 10, 2014. We learned that TED is an international non-profit organization dedicated to spreading ideas. The organization sponsors speakers on every subject imaginable, speaking for around 18 minutes. TED stands for Technology-Entertainment-Design.

Blair attended out of curiosity and chose the event in Brazil to get a foreign viewpoint, and also because his mother is from Venezuela, and South America is close to his heart. The theme was TED Global South, covering the entire southern hemisphere around the world. In order to be accepted into the program, Blair had to fill out a comprehensive application, including an essay; come up with the tuition and a visa; and take an 11-hour flight out of JFK Airport. Ian was one of 1100 people accepted.

We were shown photos of beautiful Rio, which is a very modern, clean, and well-run city. Blair also mentioned that there were around 40 presenters, and all talks were in English. Morning sessions lasted 3 hours, followed by a break and then an afternoon session. Now Ian is thinking about the next TED Global he can attend!

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

Dr. Daniel van Buren Speaks on Valvular Heart Disease

On Thursday, February 5, Dr. Daniel van Buren spoke to a very receptive To Your Health audience on valvular heart disease. This disease occurs when the valves of the heart do not open fully or leak when closed. It is most often a degenerative disease, resulting from wear and tear, and is chronic, progressing slowly over time.

Either an obstructed or a leaky valve can be heard with a stethoscope; a patient diagnosed with valvular disease will be monitored until symptoms occur. Symptoms include angina (pain), shortness of breath, and eventually heart failure. Once a person develops symptoms, it is essential they receive treatment – 50% of symptomatic but untreated patients die within two years.

Most valvular disease occurs on the left side of the heart, involving either the aortic valve (going out of the left ventricle) or the mitral valve (coming into the left ventricle). The treatment of choice for the aortic valve is surgical valve replacement. But in many cases the mitral valve can be repaired rather than replaced; when possible, this is the preferred treatment. As Dr. van Buren said, this is by far the more complicated valve, and you want to keep your own parts as long as possible. 

In just the past few years a new, non-invasive procedure for valve replacement has been approved for patients for whom surgery is not possible. With Trans Aortic Valve Replacement a balloon-type device and a replacement valve are inserted into a vein in the leg, sent to the heart, inflated, the valve attached, the balloon deflated and removed. Dr. van Buren said that while this is being performed only in those who cannot tolerate surgery, he believes this will be the procedure of the future.

Daniel van Buren and Carlie Casey speak after the presentation.

 To Your Health committee members Rosabelle Tifft, Ellen Crocker, Donna Coe, Linda McDonough and Jan Stowell.   photos Rosabelle Tifft

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

The DaPonte String Quartet Plays for WMSC

The DaPonte String Quartet plays a movement from a quartet by Mendelssohn.  The ensemble helped draw us into the music by playing a musical motif, or "seed," and then showed us how the composer developed that seed throughout the piece. Many of us felt that the explanations given by the members of the quartet led us into the music in a way we'd not experienced before.  photo Aranka Matolcsy

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

Snowshoe Walk: Take Your Sweetheart into the Woods

"More Reasons to Play Outside" - that's how the organizers of the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend describe the events planned throughout the state of Maine the weekend of February 13-15. On Saturday, February 14, WMSC and the Mahoosuc Land Trust invite you to Take Your Sweetheart into the Woods on a snowshoe walk in Andover. Meet at the Land Trust office at 9:30 am to car-pool or at Akers Ski barn in Andover at 10:00 am. The barn is located on Akers Way, off Church Street in Andover.

Rick Churchill     photo Jane Chandler

During the walk, Rick Churchill will share his unique insights on the wonders of nature. Once you're filled with fresh air and new knowledge you're invited to return to Akers' barn for a fire, hot chocolate and a chili lunch. For more information visit www.mahoosuc.org or call 207-824-3806. Delighted to collaborate in sponsoring this event, both WMSC and MLT are eager to see lots of folks at the February 14th walk. Invite your friends!

To discover other activities around the state, check out Great Maine Outdoor Weekend: http://greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org/

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

Richard Blanco Reads for WMSC

On the evening of January 12 forty WMSC members had the wonderful opportunity to hear Richard Blanco read his poetry in the intimate setting of the Mill Hill Inn. It was not unlike hearing a music recital in your own living room – chamber poetry, if you will. Richard presented us with a rich mix of poems, some of our old favorites and some new ones we'd never heard him read before. We laughed, pondered, and blinked away a tear or two. Toward the end Richard took requests for poems and answered some of our questions. Afterward he signed books and spoke with those of us who had more specific questions to ask. How fortunate we are to have such a talented and generous person as one of our neighbors!

Richard Blanco, in conversation with those at his table while waiting for dinner.     photo by Elise Caswell

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

Opera Talk – The Tales of Hoffman

On Saturday, January 31, the Metropolitan Opera will broadcast The Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) by Jacques Offenbach live in HD. This is one of the most famous and most popular of operas, full of delightful arias, and is a wonderful introduction to this form of musical theater. Jackie Cressy is offering a one-and-a-half hour program about this opera on Monday, January 26, at her house at 16 Park St. in Bethel from 2:00-3:30 pm. You will listen to excerpts from the opera, become acquainted with the story, and learn some interesting details about the composer and the history of the opera itself. Note: Jackie is not a musical expert, but happens to love this opera and would love to share her enthusiasm for it with you.

Tickets for the live HD broadcast (Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, Fryeburg Academy, January 31 at 1:00 pm) can be purchased in advance (boxoffice@fryeburgacademy.org). For those concerned about the possibility of winter weather tickets are also available at the box office the day of the performance.

 

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