Registration for Senior College classes available through Jan. 27

By Allen Crabtree

The Senior College at Bridgton will offer eight
virtual classes via ZOOM on Tuesdays and 
Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. from Feb. 2 to
Feb. 25. COURTESY PHOTO

Special to The Windham Eagle

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senior College at Bridgton is offering only limited enrollment ZOOM sessions during the month of February.

Classes for the autumn session are free to paid members and mail-in registrations are due by Jan. 27. 

Eight virtual classes will be offered on Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. from Feb. 2 to Feb. 25.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 – 10 a.m.

Maine Turtles and the Turtles of Holt Pond Preserve

The summer of 2020 was like no other, but because of the inability to host public programs, LEA partnered with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to conduct a 12-day turtle assessment at the Holt Pond Preserve. The data collected was added to a state-wide reptile and amphibian atlas. Learn about Maine turtles and their amazing adaptations all while in the midst of global change. Instructor Alanna Doughty

Thursday, Feb. 4 – 10 a.m.

Global Economic, Market and Geopolitical Outlook.

The instructor is the chief investment officer for R.M Davis wealth management and he will help participants to understand the economic world as it might look during and post pandemic. Instructor John Doughty

Tuesday, Feb. 9 – 10 a.m.

Poems of Spring

When we Mainers, deep in January and February, read the famous Shelley quote, Oh Wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind, we can’t be blamed for feeling that spring could be very far behind. There are, however, a multitude of excellent poems that celebrate the seasonal return of warmth and growth and keep us optimistic in the frigid grip of winter. This class will read and discuss a selection of the more well-known poems about spring and whet our anticipation for the coming months of April and May. The poems will be e-mailed as an attachment to each registrant.  Instructor Ken Gibbs

Thursday, Feb. 11 – 10 a.m.

Donald Baxter MacMillan, Arctic Explorer

Donald MacMillan spent nearly 50 years exploring the Arctic, from 1908 to 1954. This presentation features highlights from his boyhood in Provincetown, Massachusetts to his daring Arctic expeditions. He played a vital role in Robert Peary’s 1908-09 North Pole explorations plus many trips north in his schooner, the Bowdoin. His long career included pioneering the use of radio and aircraft in the Arctic, contributions to environmental science and cultural understanding of Arctic natives.  Instructor is Mary Morton Cowan.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 - 10 a.m.

Question of Principles

Political events are unique to a particular time and place, but there are underlying principles that are presumed to inform them. We’ll examine some of these principles as they may relate to the 2020 Federal election season.  Instructor Dee Miller.

Thursday, Feb. 18 – 10 a.m.

Tennessee Williams Movie Adaptations

Several of Tennessee Williams’ plays were adapted for movies, A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof being two of the most popular. This class will look at how Williams dealt with, and often fought with, the screen writers and the censors that influenced the adapters, directors and producers.  Instructor Will Rhys.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 – 10 a.m.

Realism to Semi-Abstraction

This talk will be a conversation about the questions that an artist has to ask herself when she finds a subject she wants to paint. Will it be a faithful representation of the subject? Or does she wish to move a step or two away from the specifics? Then there is the choice of medium, colors and textures. Using three very different paintings, Evelyn will share the stages of developing each one, the very direct (objective) vs. the round-about (subjective) process of another.  Instructor is Evelyn Dunphy.

Thursday, Feb. 25 – 10 a.m.

Ghosts and Ghost Towns of the White Mountains

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the legends of spirits who wander the White Mountains of Maine and New Hampshire remain fascinating. So are the tales of the towns where hundreds once labored, but now are no more than memories or sad foundations of buildings. This course will explore some of the many legends of this close-by mountain range. Perhaps, on future trips there, you will be more appreciative of what has gone before.  Instructor is Allen Crabtree.

The Senior College at Bridgton is the hometown program for anyone 50 years or older in Bridgton and surrounding Lakes Region communities to learn new things and meet new friends. Senior College has sessions in the spring, fall and winter each year that are designed to appeal to every interest.  Membership is open to any senior in the Lakes Region.

Reservation Forms are available at the Bridgton Library and at http://www.seniorcollegeatbridgton.org. 

Everyone should fill out the Reservation Form by Jan. 27 to reserve a space in the class(es) you wish and return the form with a $25 check for 2020-2021 membership to: Senior College at Bridgton, P.O. Box 308, Bridgton, ME 04009.

If you have questions, please contact Kappy Sprenger, Senior College Registration, at 207-647-5593 or by sending an email to seniorcollegebridgton@gmail.com. 

Class enrollments are limited to 25. Class spots will be allocated in the order your applications are received. A ZOOM link will be provided to those registered before the start of classes in February. <

Virtual Summerfest celebrates Windham community and its heroes

By Elizabeth Richards

When it became clear that Summerfest couldn’t be held in the traditional way in Windham this year, the Summerfest committee got to work, converting it to a virtual event intended to unite the community.

“I want to thank those committee members who have stepped forward to manage all of the pieces of this virtual event – in many ways, doing it this way is more challenging, and I greatly appreciate the efforts made to still pull this off,” said Linda Brooks, director of Windham Parks and Recreation. “Saying it was canceled for 2020 was certainly an option that people would have understood, but this committee couldn’t accept that as their answer.”

Dave Bulger, a school bus driver for RSU14, has been honored
with the Modern Woodmen of America's Hometown Hero Award
for this year's Windham Summerfest celebration.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

A virtual event is not without challenges when everything must be managed remotely.

“Even the committee has been meeting via Zoom, and we miss the opportunity for face-to-face collaboration,” Brooks said, acknowledging that it’s a challenge to find “something for everyone” with a virtual event.

Another challenge is getting the word out to everyone in Windham, said Robin Mullins, co-chair of the committee.

“Not everyone has online access and there may be people that might just miss it.”  

The event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/WindhamSummerfest/.

The main goal for this year was to send a message that Summerfest is not gone, it just has a different look this year, Brooks said.

“The committee was still dedicated to the notion of bringing unity to the community at a time when people have not been able to get together in their usual ways,” she said.

Mullins said that even though Windham residents cannot physically be together, they can still have fun together and celebrate the wonderful community we are all so fortunate to be a part of.

“We also want to celebrate the fact that this year represents Maine's Bicentennial,” she said.

The online celebration includes a weekly photo contest, an opportunity to post photos of past Summerfest celebrations, presentation of the Modern Woodmen of America Hometown Hero Award, and a virtual 5K.

The Modern Woodmen of America’s Hometown Hero Award is presented each year to someone in the community that dedicates himself or herself to serving others. This year’s recipient, announced at the June 9 Windham Town Council meeting, is Dave Bulger, a bus driver for RSU14 who “goes above and beyond for his kids,” said Deb Matthews, co-chair of the Summerfest committee.

Bulger said he learned that he’d been named the recipient when a friend tagged him on Facebook saying thank you.  When he asked why, someone else commented that he’d been selected.

“I didn’t even know such a thing existed,” Bulger said. “I was really taken aback,” Bulger said.  “I didn’t really think I did anything special.”

Bulger began driving a van for the REAL school in 2013, where he really connected with the students.  After that program ended, he said, he wanted to stay with the district, so he got his bus driver’s license and took a job driving for RSU14. 

He took a short break a few years ago but missed his co-workers and the kids so returned to the job, “and I haven’t looked back since,” he said.

Bulger said he tries to meet kids where they are.  He also tries to make the bus ride fun, especially for the younger children.  Often, he said, he’ll use his “DJ Dave” voice to act like a tour guide as they travel on Route 302.

Bulger designs silly cards for the students for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and at the end of the school year. For the past couple of years, he said, he has included a card for a free ice cream at the Ice Cream Dugout, which allows him to give the kids a trea,t but also to be sure families have control over the sugar consumption.

“I try to make it special.  This year, I’m really saddened that I can’t do that because I’m not going to see them,” Bulger said.

The response and support from the community around the photo contest has been fun to see, said Barb Maurais, who has coordinated that aspect of Summerfest.

“Some of the themes have lent themselves to more participation, but we definitely are receiving photo entries each week,” she said.

“We are meeting our goal of reaching out to our community ~ our friends, family, and neighbors and we are adding anticipation, excitement, and, of course, weekly prizes,” Maurais said.

Photo Contest winners are determined by which photo receives the most “likes” on the Facebook Page.  The theme for June 13 to June 19 event is Celebrating Maine’s Bicentennial, and from June 18 to June 24 all Summerfest participants – organizations, nonprofits, businesses, community groups, vendors, crafters, parade participants, bands and performers – are invited to share their profile, website, information and services on the Summerfest Facebook Page.

The Virtual Windham Summerfest 5K will round out the celebration and raise money for the Windham Parks & Recreation Department. Rather than gathering in a group for the race, participants will register and then choose their own 5K route and run whenever they like over the weekend of June 20 and June 21.

Rather than a set registration fee, there are suggested donation amounts of $10 per individual or $30 for a family of four.  All are welcome to register, regardless of whether they are able to make a donation, and any donation amount is acceptable.

The first 75 participants to register will receive a T-shirt.  Donations will help the Parks & Recreation Department provide meals for senior citizens, craft kits to include in RSU14 Food4Kids backpacks, virtual family trivia nights, community-wide trail scavenger hunts, and grocery and food pantry delivery to senior citizens. Registration is at www.windhamrecreation.com.

Although fireworks are planned for a later date, it is dependent on the governor’s reopening plan, Mullins said, so no date has been selected. 

“As we wait for guidance from the CDC along with decisions about when these types of large group gatherings will be approved, we have been unable to solidify any plans regarding the fireworks,” Brooks said.

Sponsors for 2020 Summerfest are Hannaford Supermarkets, Landing Real Estate, Legal Leaf LLC, Shaw Brothers, and Walmart.  Summerfest committee members are: Robin Mullins and Deb Matthews (co-chairs). Tom Matthews, Barb Maurais, Liza Libby. Aaron Pieper, Karen Rumo, and Katie Varney. <