This  course is offered in cooperation with Ed2Go. Self-guided and teacher led options are available. 

Please click this link to register; https://www.ed2go.com/telstar/online-courses/certificate-in-depression/

This course provides an in-depth understanding of depression, covering its symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options, both conventional and integrative. Gain the knowledge to recognize and manage symptoms of depression. You'll also learn about the critical issues surrounding suicide, including risk factors, assessment, and prevention strategies.

Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a common, yet serious, mental health disorder in adults, children, and adolescents. Depression interferes with an individual's daily life and normal functioning and may cause emotional pain for the individual with the disorder as well as family and friends. By understanding the symptoms, risk factors, criteria for diagnosis, and treatment options available, depression can be recognized early, and depressive symptoms can be reduced or alleviated. Death by suicide, which can result from depression, is a tragic reaction to stressful life circumstances. Understanding the issues surrounding suicide and mental health is a vital step in preventing suicide, helping others in crisis, and changing the way all of us view suicide and mental health issues.

February is American Heart Month. To Your Health is pleased to host its popular annual heart-health educational program presented by Dr. Daniel van Buren, FACC, Director of Cardiovascular Medicine at the New England Heart Institute at Androscoggin Valley Hospital of Berlin, NH.

A resident of Bethel and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. van Buren will discuss recent advances in cardiovascular medicine.

Popular and well-respected on this subject, Dr. van Buren returns for the 11 th year, having presented a broad range of topics to the community over the past decade including Women and Heart Disease, Facts about Cholesterol, Atrial Fibrillation, Congestive Heart Failure, Valvular Heart Disease and more.

This year’s topic, entitled “Recent Advances in Cardiovascular Medicine,” will provide up-to-date information about new developments in the field. Following the program, Dr. van Buren will address questions from the audience and the program will conclude with an expression of gratitude and honorary recognition for Dr. van Buren’s decade of service to the community.

Dr. van Buren has been a member of the Androscoggin Valley Hospital Board of Directors since 2014, having joined the medical staff there in 2010. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medicine, and Adult Echocardiography.

Now in its 19 th year, To Your Health, in collaboration with Western Mountains Senior College, the Bethel Family Health Center, and MSAD#44 Continuing Education, has been providing free health education programs to the Bethel area communities.

For more information, please contact MSAD#44 at 207-824-2136 X1340 or email wmsc@sad44.org

When: Thursday, Feb. 6th 2025 (Snow date; Feb. 13th)

Time: 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Where: West Parish Congregational Church, 32 Church St. Bethel, Maine

Are you interested in exploring your ability to write? Wanting to capture your thoughts on paper in a creative way but do not know where to begin, or feel shy about the words you see?

Stephanie Frykholm, a creative writer herself, will guide you while you write from prompts and will then be invited to read your pieces in a safe, welcoming environment. These are stand-alone writing workshops designedfor the new and seasoned writers alike. Free up  your voice through mindfullness wiritng practices. 

Having a creative space to write is key. This course is held "off site" at Cafe Dicocoa. Please bring a notebook and pen. $10 per session. 

Session I; Saturday, Jan 25. Winter Foods: Feeding Friendship

Session II; Saturday, Feb. 1.  Winter Rituals: Sustaining the Spirit

Session III; Saturday, Feb. 8. Winter Nights: Enchanting the Heart

Time for each session: 3:00-5:00 p.m. 

Particicipants must register for each session separately. 

Disasters, like the storm and flooding that struck Western Maine in December of 2023, can strike with little warning and cause enormous damage. The impact, especially to our emotional and mental wellbeing, can be long-lasting. This class will cover common emotional and behavioral responses to disasters and provide guidance on how to build resilience for yourself and your loved ones. It will also give information about how to be prepared for the next disaster by knowing where to turn for help, what to have on hand for emergencies, and how to respond when a disaster strikes.

 Join Brendan Schauffler, MPPM of Healthy Oxford Hills as he presents this class. 

This class is free and open to the public. 

Where: Telstar Adult Education 

A Women's Creative Writing Workshop ~ A Three-Part Series Led by writer and life coach Stephanie Frykholm. 

Do you have the desire to write? Would you like to feel more confident about your writing? Do you struggle with writer's block or find yourself second-guessing your words? What if you could wrtie with greater trust and ease?

In this workshop, you will:

*Develop writing practices that free your voice & keep your inner critic at bay

*Prime your creative well & strengthen your connection to your Creative Muse

*Enrich your writing through embodiment and mindfulness practices

*Write, read, and be heard within a safe circle of women writers

~~Join us as we write from prompts and read/listen within a welcoming, non-critiquing environment. For beginning and seasoned writers alike.~~

Please bring a pen and a notebook. 

When: Mondays, February 24, March 3, & 10

Time: 9:30 am- Noon

Where: Cafe DiCocoa's, Main St. Bethel

Tuition: $30

This course will be held at Telstar Adult Education located at Telstar High School. To register for this course, please go to; https://mainefoodsafety.com/

At the DFS Maine Food Safety website, locate the schedule/calendar for this course happening on Feb. 25th. Click on the link on the calendar and it will bring you to a registration page with DFS ServSafe. 

FS Services proudly provides in-house ServSafe Food Safety Certification classes across Maine. Our training utilizes the latest 7th Edition Text, incorporating the 2022 FDA Food Code updates. In addition to food safety certification, we also offer ServSafe Alcohol Certification, Basic Food Handler classes, and Allergen Training. Join us to ensure your team is equipped with the best knowledge for safe food practices!

Full Certification (In-House)Includes book, exam, and certification:$165 (payable online or at class)$140 (if book is not retained, used as a loaner)

This course runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with the exam immediately following. The exam is nationally recognized, will be sent and scored in Chicago. Your results will be emailed to your personal servsafe account that you will create on the day of the course. 

Are you interested in becoming a beekeeper? Want to find out if being an apiarist is for you? Join Christopher and Paula Easton as they cover the basics of what you will need to get started in beekeeping; tools, equipment, costs, bee purchasing and more. They will go over bee biology, hive assembly, frame assembly, pest and disease control. You will also learn seasonal management of your bees and hives, how to deal with a swarm if it happens to you, and of course, harvesting honey! 

*I am a recurring student of Chirstopher and Paula. I started beekeeping after taking their course for the first time and have been working my bees for over two years. They are incredibly knowledgeable and patient, and want to share their love of bees with you. ~Former and continuing student! 

Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes: Getting Comfortable with your Diabetes A Free Wellness program sponsored by To Your Health

To Your Health is pleased to present Karen Swan, RN and Diabetes Education Coordinator, on the topic of prediabetes and diabetes – “Getting Comfortable with Your Diabetes.”

Ms. Swan will lead a conversation on diabetes myths and facts, recommend practical steps toward lifestyle management, and share self-advocacy tips. All ages are welcome. "As a new nurse I recognized that diabetes is a very confusing, complex condition which is often overwhelming for patients and caregivers.

Many households are affected by the disease. Thus, I earned a specialty in this field and have the goal of making the management of diabetes both understandable and doable by my patients,” says Swan.

For nearly 20 years, Swan has been a Registered Nurse and for ten of those years, a Diabetes Care Education Specialist. She currently is employed at MaineHealth Stephens Hospital and was previously at Central Maine Medical Center.  

There will be time for questions during and after the presentation and handouts will be provided.

DATE: Thursday, March 6 th , 2025 (Snow date March 13 th )

TIME: 4:30 PM TO 6 PM

LOCATION: West Parish Congregational Church, 32 Church St, Bethel

COST: FREE. Registration recommended.

Now in its 19 th year, To Your Health, in collaboration with Western Mountains Senior College, the Bethel Family Health Center, and MSAD#44 Continuing Education, has been providing free health education programs to the Bethel area communities.

For more information, please contact MSAD#44 at 207-824-2136 X1340 or email WMSC@sad44.org.

Registration for this event is encouraged but not required.

To register online please visit https://sad44.coursestorm.com/ and click on the Western Mountains Senior College tab on the lower right corner.