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Welcome to Your January 2019 Newsletter!
"The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" by
Caspar David Friedrich (1818)
While we may be wondering what the new year will bring for us all there is one thing that we do know for sure. That is, thanks to the hard work of many, many, volunteers, and a few precious staff; our network of Senior Colleges will be thriving! Seventeen Senior Colleges will be providing inspiring lifelong learning classes all around Maine.
For this newsletter, I reviewed the network's websites and drew up a list of the Winter 2019 Classes posted online at the time of writing.
This month's upcoming events include:
UMASC's Concerts at Jewett features "Choro Louco." (Sunday, January 13.)
Don't forget to send me reports of your Senior College activities as well as any upcoming events. I am often told how much people enjoy learning about their sister Senior Colleges. So, even if your Senior College seems to be far away from most of the network's readers, please share your news!
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 University of Maine at Augusta Senior College
Class Conference Call With Fritz Mondale
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Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale
42nd Vice President of the United States |
Thirty Senior College students in Mike Bell's Augusta Senior College class entitled, "Son of the South: Jimmy Who?" (Jimmy Carter) enjoyed the extraordinary experience of participating in a conference call with Fritz Mondale, Carter's Vice President. The call was made possible by way of a thirty year friendship of Mike Bell and Fritz Mondale which dates back to their working together on political campaigns in Minnesota.
Mondale, now aged 90, continues to go to his office daily, and, as quickly became clear, retains his remarkable intelligence and a witty and dry sense of humor.
After an interesting summary of his initial meeting with Carter during which Mondale outlined his conception of an expanded role of the Vice Presidency in any Carter administration, he described how they discovered that their political philosophies were remarkably similar.
Student's questions ranged from Mondale's reasons for going into politics to questions about some of the major issues of his time in the White House. Student comments described the call as a memorable event. To quote Mike Bell: "It was a great opportunity to be part of history"
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University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn Senior College Presents:
Lewiston-Auburn Senior College Volunteers at Togus
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Photo: Kaye Bouchard, Sue Tymoczko, Adriann Tucker, Rachel Morin, Pat
Vampatella, Joan and Chris Leavitt, Cindy Boyd, Joanne Sabourin, Grace
Trainor. ( Brad Carter Photo )
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USM Lewiston Auburn Senior College members set out for our Fifth Annual Wreaths Across America trek to Togus National Cemetery in Augusta. Led by Pat Vampatella and Cindy Boyd of the Outdoor Adventure Club, on Saturday, December 15, as the designated Wreaths Across America Day synchronizing the laying of Memorial Wreaths on veterans' graves in Arlington National Cemetery and veterans' cemeteries across the USA
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Photo: John Preston, Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient, who served as a
Landsman on the USS ONEIDA. (Rachel Morin Photo)
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We were excited and so pleased to learn that 9,387 fresh balsam wreaths
with red bows were also placed on the headstones of all U. S. Service
Veterans laid to rest at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, located in
Colleville-sur-Mer France. The cemetery is one of 14 permanent American
World War II military cemeteries on foreign soil.
It was the first time WAA has sent U. S. wreaths to be placed on veterans'
graves on foreign soil.
Kaye Bouchard, Volunteer Coordinator of Wreath laying at Togus National Cemetery, welcomed the large crowd to the opening of the noontime ceremony held simultaneously across the U. S. A. veteran cemeteries and reminded us in her opening address that "We are One Nation with One Flag with many peoples, many races."
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Photo: A three gun salute is fired followed by the procession of the
colors the concluding the ceremony. (Rachel Morin Photo)
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Representatives from all branches of the Service were present to lay a
Commemorative Wreath at the base of the American Flagpole. We were pleased
to see a contingent of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts laying wreaths as
well. We noted the American Flag flew at half-mast in memory and honor of
President George Herbert Walker Bush's recent passing. The ceremony
concluded with a three gun salute followed by the procession of the colors.
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University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn Senior College Presents:
Fred Jordan: "The Autopsy"
Food for Thought Luncheon
Friday, January 11
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| The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp - Rembrandt |
Fans of NCIS and mystery novel readers are no strangers to the role of a forensic pathologist in solving unexplained deaths. But did you know that the origins of the profession began as early as 4000 BC? The answer to the question "Whodunnit?" often depends upon a careful analysis of how it happened. Throughout the ages, those mysteries have been solved by people who were the forefathers of today's medical examiner.
Last year, Fred Jordan gave Senior College Food for Thought attendees a riveting presentation on the role of the medical examiner's office in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. On Friday, January 11, he returns to Food for Thought with more information about the history of medical-legal investigations and how they help solve the questions surrounding unexplained sudden death. Two interesting cases will be presented. First, The Case of the Missing Housewife or how do you create a corpus delicti if there is no body? Second, Go West Young Man, a Maine boy went to Oklahoma seeking his fame and fortune in the early 1900s what happened to him? The public is invited to join us as we explore these mysteries with an expert in the field.
Fred Jordan is Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maine. In 2015 he was ordained as a hospital, senior health center, and hospice chaplain. Retired as Chief Medical Examiner, State of Oklahoma and as a clinical professor of pathology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, he is currently Visiting Professor of Pathology and Legal Medicine, St. Georges University, Grenada, West Indies.
Food for Thought Information
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and the program will begin at noon. Food for Thought Luncheons take place in Room 170 at USM's Lewiston Auburn Campus, 51 Westminster Street in Lewiston. The program is free. However, if you wish to have lunch, the cost is $8.00 and an advance reservation is required, please call before noon on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. Food may also be purchased at the campus cafeteria.
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University of Maine at Augusta Senior College Presents:
Concerts at Jewett
"Choro Louco"
UMA Jewett Auditorium,
Sunday, Jan 13,2019, 2PM
(Snow Date: Jan 27)
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Choro Louco
Choro Louco: Nicole Rabata (flute), Carl Dimow (flute, bass flute, guitar), David Newsam (7 string guitar), Eric LaPerna (bandeira), and Joel Eckhaus (Cavaquinho and Bandolim) present the unique rhythms and harmonies of Brazil's Choro music.
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Based in Portland, Maine, Choro Louco is dedicated to the century-old tradition of Brazilian choro music. Choro is known for beautiful melodies, complex harmonies, and syncopated rhythms, combining elements of European folk and classical, ragtime, jazz, Latin, and African music. Choro Louco was formed in 2013 and has evolved into a classic sounding choro ensemble. They are driven by a love of the music and a desire to share it with others.
- 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 Website.
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University of Maine at Augusta Senior College Present:
February 3
"The Second Amendment"
Mark Your calendars for UMASC's
"Forum on the Future."
February 3 (Snow Date: March 3)
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Fiction Writing Group For All Levels
Not a course--no fee or charge!
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"Homme assis" by Roger de La Fresnaye (1914)
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Location:
Midcoast Senior College,
29 Burbank Ave., Brunswick (The Landing)
Date and Time
Meets Wednesday mornings, semi-weekly
Next meeting(s) January 16 and January 30
FMI, contact Harry at 729-4238
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Midcoast Senior College Present:
Winter Wisdom 2019
Free & Open To The Public!
Curtis Memorial Library & UUC Brunswick
Wednesdays, 12:15 - 1:45 pm
January 9: Johannes Brahms, "The Young Eagle"* Mr. George Lopez is the Beckwith Artist-in-Residence at Bowdoin College and a familiar performer/lecturer in the Bath/Brunswick Community. He has received local and international acclaim for his artistry at the piano as well as his insight and depth of context for the works of many composers. He will perform excerpts by Brahms and discuss the conflicted relationship between the composer and his contemporary, Robert Schumann. Mr. Lopez is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music and received his Master's Degree from the Sweelinck Conservatory, Amsterdam.
*At Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Middle St., Brunswick, across from Curtis Memorial Library.
January 16: Action Plan for Terrorism
What can we do to protect ourselves from terrorism? This is a relevant question given the intelligence community assessment of future attacks against the U.S. and its citizens. This talk will explore six actions that could assist our country, region, and community in dealing with this threat. Francis Dillon, Brig. Gen., USAF (Ret.), received a B.S. in Business from University of CT, and a Master's Degree in Political Science from Troy State University. In 1993 he completed a 30-yr. career in the U.S. Air Force, serving with AF Office of Special Investigations. He assumed command of that office in 1988 and served in that capacity until retirement.
January 23: The Uncertain State of U.S./Cuba Relations
President Trump's decision to discontinue normalizing relations with Cuba has called into question the short- and long-term future of relations between the long-time foes. Are we returning to the hostility of the Cold War years or did Obama's opening progress to such an extent that a return to a more confrontational policy is unlikely? This talk will explore the factors that contributed to Obama and Raul Castro's decision to normalize relations, the Trump administration's apparent about-face and the prospect for future relations. Allen Wells is Emeritus Professor of History at Bowdoin College. He received his B.A. degree in History and Latin American studies from SUNY, Binghampton, and his Ph.D. from Stony Brook University. In addition to his teaching career, he has pursued research interests in modern Mexico, the history of commodities, and U.S./Latin America relations.
January 30: A Changing Casco Bay: An Update on the Health of our Coastal Waters
Friends of Casco Bay in South Portland works year-round to improve and protect the health of Casco Bay. As Casco Baykeeper,
Ivy Frignoca is the lead advocate of this effort. Her talk will provide an overview of current efforts to reduce pollution entering the Bay, address climate change and ocean acidification, and suggest measures to help the Bay adapt to changing conditions. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont, and received her JD degree from University of Maine. Prior to her work with Friends of Casco Bay, she served as an advocate for Vermont's public lands and Lake Champlain, and most recently as a Senior Attorney with Conservation Law Foundation.
February 6: Greece Before the Odyssey: Myth and Realities
In Book 3 of the Odyssey, Homer describes the royal palace of King Nestor at Pylos, in southwestern Greece. This talk will explore the Bronze Age reality behind that epic vision - the earliest Greek history we possess - from the discovery of Nestor's palace in 1939, to current excavations in Iklaina, one of the towns in his kingdom. Cynthia W. Shelmerdine is Robert M. Armstrong Centennial Professor of Classics, emerita at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Research Associate in Classics at Bowdoin College. Her main research focuses on Aegean Bronze Age archaeology, and the language, history and society of Mycenaean Greece. She was educated at Bryn Mawr College, Cambridge University and Harvard University (Ph.D. 1977).
February 13: Twice A Day Island: The Peterson Canal at New Meadows
Sometimes referred to as the "canal to nowhere," this project was constructed by hand in the 1790's with the expressed purpose of connecting the New Meadows River with Merrymeeting Bay. Its purpose was to allow the transport of logs cut along the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers to sawmills on the New Meadows River. This talk will review the origins and history of this project and the people who built it. Brenda Cummings is a native of Phippsburg, studied philosophy and history at Antioch College, is a Certified Maine Assessor, and is City Assessor of Bath. Timothy Richter is a native of Bath and received his B.S. in Education/History from UMF. Both serve on boards of Phippsburg Land Trust and Bath Historical Society and lead the annual Peterson Canal walk.
February 20: Longfellow Days
February 27: Snow Make-up Day
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University of Southern Maine Aging Initiative
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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"
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Images Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
"The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" by
Caspar David Friedrich (
1818)
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale - 42nd Vice President of the United States
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp - Rembrandt
Roger-Noël-François de La Fresnaye - Homme assis
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The Maine Senior College Network is a program of the
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Maine Senior Guide is a comprehensive web resource about all things senior that provides "one stop shopping" for Maine's seniors at the link below:
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Contact Information
Maine Senior College Network
P.O. Box 9300
Portland, Maine 04104-9300
(207) 228-4128
Email:
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