Riding an ATV can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, whether it's in your own back yard, or exploring on the thousands of miles of trails available in Maine. ATVs (including UTVs and off-road motorcycles) can also be useful around the woodlot or farm and let's face it, they're simply fun to ride! It's important to ride safely, responsibly, and to be prepared before you go. Many ATV trails reside on private land. Respecting these generous private landowners by riding responsibly is critical to maintaining trail access. Educating yourself before you go is an important component of being a safe and responsible offroad operator. Youth ages 10 to under 16 must successfully complete an approved ATV Safety Certification course to legally operate on land other than their own. Anyone 16 years of age or older is encouraged to take the course to be educated and prepared for safe riding. The ATV Safety Course is available in two different formats: online and in-person. Students 12 and older can complete the Official Maine ATV/Snowmobile Safety course online at offroad-ed.com/maine. The cost to register for the online course is $34.95. Upon successful completion of the online course, students will receive their Maine ATV/Snowmobile Safety Certification card. FMI or for a listing of live courses, go to https://www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/educational-programs/safety-courses/atv-safety.html

Overexposed image? No problem–adjust the exposure in editing mode. Wish your photo could be black and white instead of color? Choose a filter and change the ambiance of your image. Does the main object of your picture seem lost among extraneous details? Use the cropping feature to focus the viewer’s eye on the most important part of the image. These examples are just a few of the many ways you can turn an average image into something special. Have fun editing your pictures with the many options in your Mac’s Photos app. Required: a strong internet connection and a Mac computer, iPad, or iPhone to access videos and articles. Pre-registration is required to receive online link.

Every BOOMERTECH ADVENTURES course includes self-paced videos to watch at your own pace and convenience. Additionally, all of the courses offer PDFs containing class information, articles, and videos accessed directly through the links provided. Personalized support is available via email, phone, and Zoom. For best outcomes, it is recommended that you watch the course videos ona computer/iPad and have your iPhone in hand to try out ideas as you move through the videos.

BoomerTECH Adventures courses are developed by three Maine educators, Ed Brazee, Jill Spencer, and Chris Toy with Ed as the primary instructor. He taught at the University of Maine for 25 years and 13 years before that as a middle and high school teacher in NY and CO.

Many Mac/Apple users have 1000 or more images stored in their Mac desktop/laptop Photos app. Frustration can arise when you try to find a picture or video among the multitude of saved images. Understanding the built-in organization of the Mac Photos app is the first thing you will learn. Next comes organizing your images and videos into albums and folders to develop your own management system. Plus, discover how to tag people in photos and create shared albums that you can invite friends and family to view! Required: a strong internet connection and a Mac computer, iPad, or iPhone to access videos and articles. Pre-registration is required to receive online link.

     Time Varies: Course is “At Your Own Pace” 

     Must be completed within the semester

Every BOOMERTECH ADVENTURES course includes self-paced videos to watch at your own pace and convenience. Additionally, all of the courses offer PDFs containing class information, articles, and videos accessed directly through the links provided. Personalized support is available via email, phone, and Zoom. For best outcomes, it is recommended that you watch the course videos on a computer/iPad and have your iPhone in hand to try out ideas as you move through the videos.

BoomerTECH Adventures courses are developed by three Maine educators, Ed Brazee, Jill Spencer, and Chris Toy with Ed as the primary instructor. He taught at the University of Maine for 25 years and 13 years before that as a middle and high school teacher in NY and CO.

Unlock the full potential of your iPhone with iOS 18! This comprehensive course for Mac/Apple users will provide essential knowledge and skills to master the latest iOS features and enhancements. Learn to streamline your workflow with a redesigned Control Center. Discover powerful shortcuts. Enhance your interactions with a more intelligent Siri. Explore innovative communication tools with Apple Intelligence. Capture stunning photos to unleash your creativity with upgraded photo editing tools and discover hidden camera features. Customize your iPhone and make it uniquely yours with personalized settings, widgets, and accessibility options. Finally, learn to keep your iPhone running smoothly and efficiently with expert tips and troubleshooting techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this course will provide you with the confidence and expertise to navigate the iOS 18 world with ease. Enroll today and become an iOS 18 expert! Appropriate for anyone using iOS 18 (iPhone XR, 11 through 16, and SE (2nd and 3rd generations). Required: a strong internet connection and a Mac computer, iPad, or iPhone to access videos and articles. Pre-registration is required to receive online link.

Every BOOMERTECH ADVENTURES course includes self-paced videos to watch at your own pace and convenience. Additionally, all of the courses offer PDFs containing class information, articles, and videos accessed directly through the links provided. Personalized support is available via email, phone, and Zoom. For best outcomes, it is recommended that you watch the course videos ona computer/iPad and have your iPhone in hand to try out ideas as you move through the videos.

BoomerTECH Adventures courses are developed by three Maine educators, Ed Brazee, Jill Spencer, and Chris Toy with Ed as the primary instructor. He taught at the University of Maine for 25 years and 13 years before that as a middle and high school teacher in NY and CO.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendars!

*FARM STORE OPEN WEEKLY: Beginning April 4: Friday Noon-4 p.m.,

     Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Thursday by appointment.

*SPRING TEA: Saturday, May 24, Noon. Limited Seating. Call ahead for         availability.

*LAMB LOVER’S DAY: Saturday, June 14

*GARDEN TOUR: Saturday, June 28, 2 p.m.

ECHO VALLEY FARM

1244 Sokokis Trail (Route 5)

Cornish, ME 04020

(207) 608-1441

FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM:“Echo Valley Farm Maine”

Shetland Sheep Fleece, Roving, Hand & Millspun Yarns, Handmade Gifts, and Registered Shetland Sheep

In-person appointments for one-on-one counseling are now available at the Cornish Town Hall with certified counselors who provide free, expert advice on selecting the right plans, understanding benefits, and maximizing your coverage. Clients receive unbiased assistance with enrolling in Medicare, comparing plan options, and resolving issues related to claims and coverage. Please call the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) at (207) 396-6524 or visit their website at smaaa.org to make an appointment.

Topics covered include: industry overview/organization, Maine Real Estate Commission, agency relationships, product knowledge, property valuation, the appraisal process, financing the transaction, contracts, closings, and federal and state laws. Fee includes textbook PDF (hard copy available from Center for Real Estate for an additional fee), one year of access to the course, instructor feedback after the three quizzes and the final exam, and twice monthly Q&A drop-in sessions via Zoom. A certificate of completion is awarded with a grade of 75% or above, required for the state licensing exam ($85 fee), which must be taken within one year of satisfactory course completion. When you affiliate with a real estate agency and apply for your license, there is a $100 fee, along with a $21 criminal records check fee (some companies may offer to pay this fee when you affiliate with them). Required: Attendees must be 18 or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent to get a license, but a diploma is not required to take this class. Pre-registration is required to receive online link.

     Time Varies: Course is “At Your Own Pace” but must be completed 

     within one year

Bob Joslyn has been a licensed real estate broker in ME since 1988 and a solo agent at Keller Williams Realty for the past eight years. He has enjoyed helping many buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions. Bob has been an instructor at Husson University for more than 20 years, teaching numerous business courses.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s (SMAA) Money Minders program is partnering with New Ventures Maine and other community partners to provide one-hour Financial Skills Workshops for adults 60+ the last Thursday of each month. Workshop discussions include money management attitudes and styles, setting realistic financial goals, creating and following a budget, how to consolidate credit card debt, online banking, and much more! Each workshop is unique and tailored to coincide with financial matters related to older adults throughout the calendar year. The more workshops you attend, the more your financial competence will increase, helping you gain greater confidence in your financial skills. Increase your financial literacy and boost your financial wellness, one month at a time! 

The focus of the April 24th workshop, Bite into your Benefits: Food, Home and Health Resources, is to ensure seniors are aware of benefits and resources available to reduce stress around finances. This workshop will review a list SMAA services, as well as those available in the community and how to access them. Topics include availability of SMAA nutrition programs, including Meals on Wheels, Simply Delivered, Community Cafes, and As You Like It (AYLI); how to apply for additional nutrition programs such as food stamps, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Maine Senior FarmShare, and food pantries; and what home and health benefits you may qualify for, including Medicare savings, heating, tax credits, and prescription drug cost discount programs. Workshop sizes are limited. Pre-registration is required at www.smaaa.org/events

     Last Thursday of each month, 10-11 a.m.