Issue No. 108
April
2019
The MSCN Newsletter
 Welcome to Your April 2019 Newsletter!

Gustave Caillebotte, 1877 - Rue de Paris, jour de pluie (étude)

This newsletter waves farewell to Winter with pleasant reminders of how members get together to put a positive spin on their world. Western Mountains held a Mardi Gras Potluck. Lewiston-Auburn enjoyed a sleigh ride (complete with toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate). Meanwhile, in Farmington, Gold LEAF members escape the last of the slippery ice and discolored snow to take a virtual trip to Tanzania!

In this issue:
Photos from the Mardi Gras Potluck at Western Mountains Senior College
 
USM Lewiston-Auburn Senior College - Outdoor Adventure Club Goes Sleighing

Gold LEAF Institute - A Virtual Trip to Tanzania

Upcoming Events for April

 
USM Lewiston-Auburn SC - "Food for Thought" Lecture:   Raymond Marc Dumont "Adventures in Live Theater" - April 12
   
plus:

Send me your class and activity reports by the end of the month so that I can share them with the network in the May issue. 


MardiGrasWestern Mountains Senior College

Photos from the Mardi Gras Potluck at Western Mountains Senior College

Kathleen DeVore, Marilyn Sahlberg, Jan Stowell and Marvin Ouwinga


Mardi Gras potluck

More photos available on the  Western Mountains Senior College blog.

SleighRideUSM Lewiston-Auburn Senior College 

Outdoor Adventure Club Goes Sleighing 
The horses wait patiently for members to finish hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.

"The horses know the way to carry the sleigh over white and drifting snow..." Bursting into sleighing songs was irresistible as 111 members of USM LAC Senior College Outdoor Adventure Club set out to explore the fields and woods of Harrison on a sunny February 16. Sleigh bells ringing, two golden Belgian horses, Madison and Dixon, stepped smartly across the fields following a trail that led into a fairytale Woodland. A light snow clung to the branches." It's like being in a Christmas card!" One member exclaimed.

Ready for adventure!
 L to R Charlotte Bosworth, Les Bosworth, Diane Higgens, Lucille Clement, Diane Little, Irene Frye, Louise Michaud, Mary Jane Beardsley, Cindy Boyd,
Pat Vampatella,  Joanne Sabourin (photographer)

Bill and Darcy Winslow the owners of High View farm in Harrison, offer sleigh rides through their property for 12 people on suitable weekends in winter. "If it's too cold for the horses, it's too cold for you," Bill explained when postponing our January outing. But this February day was perfect. A light snow the day before coated the trees. The temperature was a balmy 38°. Dressed in our layers with warm blankets to sit upon and cozy around our knees, we were ready to enjoy what has become an annual event for the club.

Part way into our trip we passed a yurt. Recently built, it is heated with a wood stove and is available for rent by the day. " We will take you to it by sleigh and pick you up by sleigh the next day. All you have to do is keep the wood stove going".

Just before the ride's end, we stopped at a campfire. Logs are blazing, hot chocolate and marshmallows for toasting are waiting. Kelly, the farm dog who has run alongside the sleigh, pushes into the group eager for us to drop a tasty treat. "If it weren't for this Senior College club I would never have a horse-drawn sleighing experience like this," one member said. Everyone agreed it was the perfect outing for a fine winter day. After 1.5 hours on the trail, we enjoyed a hearty lunch at Cindy's Dockside in Poland Spring.

Senior College club membership is included in the annual membership fee of $35. Club members plan and share the cost of outings held throughout the year. If you would like to learn more about activities planned for spring and summer contact Pat Vampatella,   and join us for more fun!   

Submitted by Mary Jane Beardsley, USM Lewiston-Auburn Senior College                                          

Pangea-GoldLEAFGLIkickOFFGold LEAF Institute

A Virtual Trip to Tanzania
"Kichem Chem" by Rashidi - Tingatinga art 

Here is a short bit of news from what we like to call the senior college of the foothills. We wish we could report on rapid melting, but it doesn't seem to be case quite yet. Indeed, even the sap has been flowing more slowly due to the colder than normal March temperatures.

Rather than dwell on any of that, however, Gold LEAF members packed the campus North Dining Hall and went "virtually" to Tanzania, with the help of Elizabeth Ferry, who spent a total of 27 months there, and returned just last Fall. Elizabeth now teaches at our local high school but was somehow still full of boundless energy even at the end of a long school day. Her vibrant and engaging presentation pulled everyone into the warm days and nights of East Africa. At the same time the group preferred not to dwell too deeply on the tarantulas, rats, and other such creatures that she encountered there.

After a geography lesson, in which Tanzania was overlaid with New England so everyone could grasp its size, Elizabeth described her 3 months of training before launching into her two years of Peace Corps service. With no private cars or vehicles in the small rural village where she taught in a large classroom, she had to join everyone else in relying on the local bus networks. At one point, suffering from swelling and a rash which became quite dangerous, she had to undertake an uncomfortable journey to South Africa in order to get proper treatment.

The local diet, in terms of availability and her taste preferences, was generally vegetables. Once in a while a care package would arrive from the states, but once she saw the price of postage, she discouraged much of that. Immersion is a well-known method of learning a lesson and so Elizabeth now speaks Swahili, learned mostly through living with her first host family who were wonderful and with whom she has stayed in contact. During her years of service, she met and fell in love with another Peace Corps volunteer who was working near the East Coast of Africa and they are now engaged to be married. When her fiancé returned he settled in Alaska, and Elizabeth will will be moving there as soon as the school year ends.

The afternoon was filled with our own type of immersion: Several attendees where invited to dress in traditional garb and the particular clothing was described in terms of its purpose. One woman wore the hijab and another pair dressed as a school girl and school boy. A number of other artifacts were shared and explained. Lastly, there was a fantastic video showing her work and conveying the local spirit of music and energy. Many thanks go to her, and safe travels to another part of the world, the most northern state of the U.S!


Submitted by Eileen Kreutz, The Gold LEAF Institute
UMAJewett
University of Maine at Augusta Senior College Presents:

Concerts at Jewett
Castlebay
"Bygone Ballads of Maine"

UMA Jewett Auditorium, 
Sunday, April 7 at 2 pm

Castlebay members Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee

Castlebay has been musically weaving together the heritage of New England and the Celtic lands since 1987. Members Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee have loved and researched traditional music for most of their lives and blend history, legend and experience into their personable performance style. Their concerts feature poignant ballads sung in Lane's ethereal soprano and Gosbee's rich baritone interspersed with joyous dance tunes played on Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle and tin whistle. Castlebay treats the audience to a musical journey through time and across the Atlantic. The duo also presents special theme concerts on various aspects of Celtic lore, nautical life or Colonial America.

Castlebay has toured the eastern US, Maritime Provences, Great Britain and Ireland. Their first tours of Scotland in the early 1990's were organized by the traditional singer, Jack Beck. Over the years they have met and collaborated with many fine Scottish musicians including members of Heritage, Geordie MacIntyre, Alison MacMoreland, Stravaig, and the late Lionell McClelland. While much of the Scottish music they perform is traditional, they have also been moved to write major pieces about places they have visited including the Isle of Skye and Dumfries & Galloway.


  • Tickets are $10, students $5, 12 & under free.
  • Tickets are available at Dave's Appliance in Winthrop and at the door. 
  • Call 621-3551, or email  for more information or for mail order tickets.
  • You can also visit the Concerts at Jewett web page.

lasc-Food4Thought
University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn Senior College

Food for Thought Luncheon Series
Presents:
Raymond Marc Dumont
"Adventures in Live Theater"
Friday, April 12, 2019
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Raymond Marc Dumont
Raymond Marc Dumont, a native of Lewiston and the next Food For  Thought speaker, will discuss how he discovered live theater and the adventures he has
had along the way to a career in the arts. He plans to talk about how the industry has  changed and his history with the Maine State Music Theatre intern program.

Dumont, a longtime member of Actors Equity, has worked throughout New England and in national regional theater. He has a long-term relationship with MSMT where he has worn many hats, beginning as an intern in 1993 and moving through various posts until he became managing director in 1999-2003.

During that time he had the honor of producing the world premiere of Frank Loesser's "Hans  Christian Andersen," as well as the northern New England premiere of "Titanic" and "Scarlet Pimpernel." Recently Dumont appeared at MSMT as Andy Lee/Bert Berry in "42nd Street," Gangster in "The Drowsy Chaperone," Rusty Charles in "Guys and Dolls," and as Carmen Ghia in "The Producers."

"I need to theater all the time. It is my passion," he said. Last season MSMT closed its  season with a performance of "Pinocchio," directed and choreographed by Dumont and  produced and performed by MSMT's Educational Fellows.

It was described as "an enchantingly fresh take on Carlo Collodi's classic tale, Robin and  Clark's musical version of 'Pinocchio' explores the inner journey of the wooden puppet  who must learn the meaning of truth, compassion and courage in order to become a
'real live boy'."

Dumont's accomplishments include directing and choreography for productions all over  southern/central Maine. A member of the Actors' Equity Association, he has performed  professionally at numerous regional theaters in the U. S., and favorite productions
include "A Chorus Line," "Grand Hotel," "Cabaret," "Chicago" and "Blood Brothers."

Dumont will address the USM L-A Senior College Food For Thought luncheon at noon  Friday, April 12. The program is free and open to the public. Luncheons take place in  room 170 at USM-LAC, 51 Westminster St. Cost is $8 for lunch, and an advance  reservation is required.

To reserve, call 207-753-6510 before noon Wednesday, April 10. Food may also be  purchased at the campus cafe.


USMLibrary
USM Portland Library

USM Visiting Artist Ólöf Nordal to discuss Iceland "Experiment on Turf"
Wednesday, April 10, 
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.


The University of Southern Maine Art Department is excited to host Icelandic artist Ólöf Nordal this spring as a Visiting Artist. Nordal will present a public talk and slideshow, "Experiment on Turf," on Wednesday, April 10, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., referencing her most recent work researching and experimenting with turf as a material for art making. The lecture will take place at Glickman Family Library, 7th Floor Events Room, on the Portland Campus. .  

For more information visit USM Office Of Public Affairs webpage.

AARPshredding
AARP Maine

AARP Maine
Free Shredding and Medicine Disposal Events in April 

Scams and frauds are on the rise, but Mainers can take active steps to protect themselves and their families.  AARP Maine is once again collaborating with community partners to host free shredding events.  All of AARP events will also include safe disposal of your unwanted or expired medications.  

For more details including times and locations in Augusta, Bangor and Portland please visit:  FREE SHREDDING Events in MAINE in 2019!

Submitted by AARP Maine

AARPgreedAARP Maine

"It's Time to Stop Rx Greed: AARP on the Front Lines Fighting Soaring Prescription Drug Prices"
 
Visit AARP Maine's web page " Ellen Harris-Howard of Lebanon, ME Speaks Up About Her Rx Drug Costs" to learn why AARP launched  StopRxGreed, this is a national campaign urging federal and state policymakers to Stop Rx Greed by cracking down on price-gouging drug companies.

Submitted by AARP Maine

BelfastCalltoArtistsSenior College at Belfast

"Colorful Corals" Fiber Art by Sandi Cirillo
Featured Artist, 2019 Festival of Art

Call to Artists!
Annual Senior College Festival of Art May 30 - June 2, 2019

Open To Maine Artists 50 Years Of Age And Older!

The Senior College at Belfast invites all Maine artists, 50 years of age and above, to enter one piece of their work in the 17th Annual Festival of Art, to be held at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast, May
30 through June 2, 2019. Amateur and professional artists are welcome, all media accepted, (some size restrictions may apply). You need not be a Senior College member to participate.

Entry forms must be submitted by March 31, 2019. Artwork is to be delivered to the University of Maine Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Avenue (Rt. 3), Belfast, on Wednesday, May 29th, between 5 and 7 p.m.

A registration form and information regarding the event may be obtained via e-mail, from our website, the Senior College at Belfast office, or by leaving a message at 207-338-8033. 

We welcome all members of the Senior College Network to take this opportunity to show their work in a non-juried, non-competitive exhibition.


The Festival of Art is sponsored by Senior College at Belfast

Submitted by Cathy Bradbury, Festival of Art Committee, Senior College at Belfast
WinterClasses

Spring 2019 Classes


University of Southern Maine Aging Initiative


The MSCN newsletter is sent to each Senior College board. The boards then forward the newsletter to their membership. However, if you are not a member of a Senior College or perhaps you are, and you simply want the news "hot off the press" subscribe here! 
 
Newsletter Submissions Deadline Date:
The end of each month.

Submit your articles and photographs to Anne Cardale at acardale@maine.edu .


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Images Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Gustave Caillebotte, 1877 - Rue de Paris, jour de pluie (étude)

"Kichem Chem" by Rashidi  (Tingatinga art, a style of art first developed in Tanzania.)






The Maine Senior College Network is a program of the  

Maine Senior College Network
Links

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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

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SAGE at UMPI

Senior College at Belfast


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Portland, Maine 04104-9300 
(207) 228-4128

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