Wiscasset Senior Center

Last Wednesday evening Senior Center member Katharine Martin-Savage brought Joe Cotter, President of National RE/sources, Scott Houldin, Project Manager and Dave Grogan lead engineer for the Twin River Energy project to the Community Dinner. She asked if I would introduce them at announcement time and say that they would be happy to answer any questions. This I did. The previous week the "opposition" to Twin River Energy was at the Senior Center handing out literature promoting their point of view.

This is great. This is a Community Dinner and is open to all in this area regardless of social, economic, religious or political background. Discussion of various views and getting involved is encouraged. Have you noticed how many Senior Center members are involved with town committees or boards? A good many are involved as volunteers with area non-profit and charitable organizations as well. So discussion of topics of interest with differing opinions is not only likely to occur but is quite appropriate at the Community Dinners.

Our only rules are that space must be available for any displays and the microphone can only be used after dinner. Also all diners have the right to not listen or take part in a discussion or presentation. However I do think most want to hear all sides of an issue and will get out to vote as they see fit.

Another member, talking about a different issue, told me that we have to realize that the Senior Center is about having "fun". Now let me define "fun" as something "enjoyable" and "worthwhile." We certainly try to stay focused on that theme. Sometimes there are things we can accomplish and many times there are things that can not be accomplished but we will always attempt to offer enjoyable and worthwhile things to do.

After dinner on Wednesday, November 28, there will be a presentation on the MDOT proposed Wiscasset bypass routes. This issue has to be almost as controversial as the gasification plant. I encourage all members to get involved in the issues facing the area community in general and seniors in particular.

A woman asked me the other day, "What do you do when you get old and can no longer drive and all your friends and family are so busy with their own lives? Perhaps we should just not live so long."

It is difficult to answer a question like this. Living long is not the problem. The problem is how to solve problems in a rural area. However, I don't think we can expect others, or the proverbial "them," to solve the problems for us. It takes seniors working together to come up with solutions to problems with aging. This comes back to "fun" and Community Dinners where all kinds of issues can be discussed and people can find "worthwhile" and "enjoyable" things to accomplish. Just a few people getting fired up, like many are over the gasification plant, could solve problems beyond the current hot topics.

A small but enthusiastic group enjoyed some good music by the Bath Municipal Band at last Saturday's Swing Dance. Thanks go to the Gardiner Savings Bank (now the Savings Bank of Maine) for sponsoring this event.

The cribbage tournament winners on Tuesday, Oct. 23, were Linden Simmons first, Dot Kidney second, Doc Schilke got low score and Lewis Vigneault and Dot Kidney tied for the high hand. On Thursday, Oct. 25, Tiger Chubbuck was first, Keith Batchler second, Charlie Preyer got low score and Jim Black had the high hand.

(Reservations please! Call 882-8230 at least two days in advance for meal reservations.)

Monday, Nov. 5 - lunch, baked beans and hot dogs.

Tuesday, Nov. 6 - Election Day. 9:30 a.m. to noon Cribbage in gym.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 - 4:30 p.m. social hour, 5:30 p.m. dinner, lasagna.

Thursday, Nov. 8 - lunch, Shepherd's Pie, 6 p.m. Cribbage