Tag Archives: Maine

Road Trip 2024

A Word from Anina

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Anina is providing today’s update! You can learn more about her and how we met here and here. She is a very wise young girl!

Would you believe it? I got to meet Uncle Walter and Aunt Janice from Maine!

If you don’t remember, they are the ones who have sent me mail almost since I was born. It turns out that Uncle Walter decided to come to Michigan to learn how to farm with oxen.

When Mom told me about this development, I said, “I love oxen. But I’ve never seen one before.”

Mom and Dad then explained that there are moose in Maine. This also sounded interesting to me, and I expressed my interest in seeing these creatures.

Uncle Walter with the Oxen

Uncle Walter and Aunt Janice drove down from Michigan in a pickup truck, and would you believe it, they brought neither an ox nor a moose with them! Now here’s what I want to know: what’s the good of a pickup truck if you forget the moose and the ox?

Anina and her moose

This would have been a disappointment, but they brought so many moose items and oxen photos that I was well-satisfied. One of the moose is one that grows bigger when you put him in the water. Another is a lovely soft stuffy that fits perfectly in the cradle at the foot of my bed. Also, Aunt Janice sang me a song about moose and marshmallows, which was lovely.

The moral of the story is: I have a moose from Maine and all is well.

Find out more about Anina’s Mom and her books here! Tell her Uncle Walter sent you!

Classes and Courses, Learning

Upcoming real estate courses

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It’s that time! Well, not quite… first we have to enjoy the holidays. But for those who like to plan ahead, you should probably know that I’ll be teaching some real estate courses in the near future. Maybe one of these courses should be in your future!

The Sales Agent Course is for those who want to become licensed and get started in the real estate business. The Associate Broker Course is for those who have been sales agents and are now ready to move up to the next level of licensing. Both courses are offered in what is commonly called a “blended” or hybrid approach meaning you complete online lessons on your own and attend mandatory in-person workshops.

I’ll be teaching the Sales Agent Course in Augusta–the workshop dates are four consecutive Saturday mornings starting on January 29, 2022. You’ll want to be registered by January 14th so you have time to complete the online lessons prior to the first workshop. I’ll be teaching the same course in Bangor with the workshops on four consecutive Saturdays starting on March 5, 2022. You should be registered by February 17th so you have time to complete the online lessons prior to the first workshop.

The Associate Broker Course in Augusta includes four consecutive Friday Workshops starting on January 28, 2022. You’ll want to be registered by January 14th so you have time to complete the online lessons prior to the first workshop. I’ll be teaching the same course in Bangor with the workshops on four consecutive Saturdays starting on March 4, 2022. You should be registered by February 17th so you have time to complete the online lessons prior to the first workshop.

Click the name of either course to be linked to the Real Estate Learning Group Website where you’ll find complete information including the dates and times of the workshops and information on how to register. Or, if you have a question concern, send me an email!

Classes and Courses, Learning, Personal Growth

Last call!?

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If you’ve been watching the weather forecast, you may think this is your last call to rush to the store for bread and milk. The forecast here at Abbot Village Press’s World Headquarters is calling for “10 to 15 inches” of snow.

But I’m actually making a last call for a couple of real estate courses I will be starting soon. Both will have workshops in Augusta.

The Sales Agent Course Workshops are held on four consecutive Saturdays beginning on March 2, 2019. This the course you need if you want to get started in real estate. Since there’s some online work you must complete prior to the first workshop, you’ll need to register PDQ (pretty darn quick). You can do that here!

The Associate Broker Course Workshops are held on four consecutive Fridays beginning on March 1, 2019. This is for those who are currently licensed as Sales Agents and it too includes some online work you must complete prior to the first workshop so register soon. You can do that here!

There are, of course, additional options and opportunities… you can always . And if you have questions you can always send me an email.

Send an email to Walter!

There’s life after real estate! Check the teaching schedule for Substitute Teacher and Suicide Prevention Workshops… Think spring! Think learning! Think!

Causes and Friends, Maine Life

Local Author Dedicates Book to “Granger Extraordinnaire”

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Betty Van Dyke receives the first copy of “Exploring Traditions” from Author Walter Boomsma

Guilford–Betty Van Dyke of Guilford was recently notified that a soon to be released book is dedicated to her. Walter Boomsma, Program Director of Valley Grange and Maine State Grange Communications Director has authored the book, “Exploring Traditions–Celebrating the Grange Way of Life.” He dedicated the book to Van Dyke, calling her a “Granger Extraordinaire” and explaining the great influence she had during his “formative years” as a Grange member.   “I came to appreciate both her knowledge of the Grange’s teachings and her commitment to what I later came to understand as ‘the Grange Way of Life.'”

At the height of her Grange career, Van Dyke held a number of local and state positions, including serving as the Maine State Community Service Director. At 94, Van Dyke still keeps track of what’s going on at Valley Grange and is a strong supporter.

Boomsma describes his latest book as serving a dual purpose. “The primary goal in writing it was to encourage exploration. The Grange is a 150-year-old organization with a strong agricultural focus and many are questioning its relevance to today’s society. I wanted to encourage people to develop a deeper understanding of what the Grange is all about–including our members.  The Grange is very much about a way of life and, while farming has changed, people have not.” He also believes people who are not familiar with the Grange will appreciate exploring the value of tradition in general since “Tradition and ritual create stability and a sense of community, especially when we understand the basis for them.”

In her foreward to the book, National Grange Master Betsy Huber writes, “These essays by Walter Boomsma unpack the teachings of the Grange and relate them to today’s world and our everyday lives.  He has a gift for taking the lessons from the farm and showing their relevance today, even for those whose only interaction with agriculture happens through their food and clothing choices.  He understands the meaning the Grange Founders intended and interprets the sometimes archaic language to reveal the principles they wanted to teach to farm families who often had no other opportunity for education. “

The book is available through a number of outlets including Amazon and Barnes and Noble, the as well as the Grange’s National Supply Store.

Bullying, Classes and Courses, Mental Health, Mental Hygiene, Personal Growth, Suicide Prevention

Would three of my friends please…?

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This post is appearing on Facebook… almost to the point of going viral. That’s certainly not a bad thing, but my question is a little different.

Would three of my friends please attend a free two-hour workshop that will help you understand some facts about suicide and some very simple steps you can take to help prevent it?

You can do more than just provide a phone number!

I currently have two free workshops scheduled:

  • Thursday, May 11, 2017, at Bangor Grange, 1192 Ohio Street in Bangor, starting at 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Guilford United Methodist Church, 3 School Street in Guilford starting at 6:30 p.m.

Both workshops are free–all it costs is two hours of your time–admittedly a little more than copying and pasting a phone number, but in return for those two hours you’ll be able to help stem this crisis.  93% of students who’ve attended my class say they feel more confident about being able to recognize suicide warning signs and risk factors. 85% left feeling better equipped to help someone might seem suicidal.

And you’ll get a magnet that includes both the National and Maine Hotline Numbers as well as lots of resource material. In order to ensure we have plenty of material, we do ask you to pre-register by or calling 343-1842.

But wait, there’s more! A third workshop is available through the RSU 19 Adult Education Program on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Nokomis High School in Newport. There is a small charge for this program… for more information or to register, visit http://rsu19.maineadulted.org/ or call 207 368-3290.

And even more! Did you know that you can report Facebook Posts that seem to reflect suicidal thoughts?  

Walter Boomsma is Gatekeeper trained and a NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Certified Mental Health Specialist for Youth and Adults. He is also an experienced educator and substitute elementary school teacher.