Hope everyone is having a good winter! Thank you to everyone who sent news.
Tim Bishop has published his first novel, The Persistent Road. This book tells the story of a man who suffers loss and embarks on a bicycling odyssey to find out if life is still worth living. The subject of this book is no accident as Tim and his wife, Debbie, have bicycled throughout America and discovered adventure and intrigue off the beaten path. After 10,000 miles of bicycling, Tim co-wrote his first book, Wheels of Wisdom, with Debbie. When he is not writing or bicycling, Tim coaches people who struggle with serious life issues, first on TheHopeLine.com and now with NeedHim.org. For more information or to find out how to get a copy of his books go to TimBishopWrites.com.
Ken Hanscom writes, “I retired four years ago, after having a 40+ year career in parks and recreation in Maine, my last 30 years in Brewer, ME. I am now enjoying an active retirement with my wife, Cathy Ryan Hanscom (UMF ’78). She is a retired teacher. We volunteer for Meals on Wheels, and I am coaching high school golf. We enjoy traveling, boating, hiking, and spending time with our son and daughter-in-law.”
Ritchie Palmer has been elected to the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Ritchie established a Maine 200 individual medley interscholastic record. He was also a member of Bangor’s state and New England record-setting 400 free relay. He finaled in the 400 individual medley for UMaine’s New England championship team. He was a longtime assistant coach for the Bangor YMCA and worked with the Bangor high school girls team 12 seasons.
Paul Chandler has returned to Maine after 43 years away. After five years of substitute teaching in three Massachusetts school districts, he has started working in the Wells-Ogunquit School District. His photographic hobby has paid off! One of his photos was featured on the August page of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges 2022 calendar. His photograph of the Sachs Covered Bridge near Gettysburg was selected as the cover photo for the 2023 calendar.
Chris Johnson and his wife, Valarie, were chosen as honorary chairs of the annual Family Fun Day Lobster Bake sponsored by the Lincoln County Democratic Committee (LCDC). The couple has served in many leadership roles for the organization. Chris has held public office as a state senator (4 ½ years), and on local and regional school boards and on the Somerville Select Board, where he is still the chair. He was the 2014 recipient of the LCDC Frances Perkins Award.
Dan Warren wrote: “As a senior at the University of Maine in 1978-79, I was hired by the Maine Times newspaper to follow Professor Stephen King ’70, ’87 Hon. L.H.D. around campus for two days. (King was a guest professor for that year). I did so in March and April.
“Then I went off to a national journalism fellowship in Indiana for the summer. I came back in August and wrote the story, but by that time, my editor said that the Maine media world had been “flooded” with Stephen King stories all summer, and he was not going to be able to publish mine. He paid me for it, and I ended up just sticking it in a box.
“For 44 years, I did not know where it was. This past summer, I came across it. I asked the publisher at Portland Monthly magazine if he would publish it, and he agreed to do so. It was published in the November issue of Portland Monthly.”
Linda Carroll writes, “After living and thriving in the heart of NYC for 35 years, my husband, William Riley, and I finally sold our NYC properties and relocated to the coast of New Hampshire. We are truly enjoying the calmness here, the plentiful fresh fish, and especially the fresh air. Because my private practice (voice pathology and voice training) moved 100% to Zoom during the pandemic, I have been able to continue that model in NH. I continue as Senior Voice Scientist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and am Adjunct Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of New Hampshire. Two of my voice students had their La Scala debuts this season, and another student had his Broadway debut as the lead in The Kite Runner. Although my life is calmer in NH compared to NYC, it is still quite busy. The University of Maine was vital to establishing the groundwork for my success today, and getting my Ph.D. from Columbia was worth it! Hugs to all.”
I really enjoy hearing from you. Please send your news anytime!