Aging Well Living Well Franklin County Expo 2025
Session Descriptions
Backyard Birding. This session features a slide presentation of birds seen in and around our homes including discussion of each bird species.
Presenter Burt Knapp is secretary of Western Maine Audubon and an avid backyard birder who is eager to share his vast knowledge about the Maine birds we know and cherish.
Bingocize® combines the game of bingo, exercise, and/or health education. This is a 1-time session designed to showcase the larger program. Typically twice per week, each 45-60 minute session consists of exercises (range of motion, balance, muscle strengthening, and endurance exercises) and health education questions.
Presenters Jessica Riseman and Jessica Bronish work together at SeniorsPlus to support the education centers and offerings of Lewiston and Wilton. Jessica R has a bachelor’s degree in social work from USM; Jessica B has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMF. They are both passionate about spreading joy and education to their communities.
Don’t Get Hooked! Learn Internet Safety. Learn basic internet safety and privacy from a local business owner and cybersecurity expert. In this session you will learn how to identify common email scams, how to use computers safely, and how to protect your privacy on the internet.
Presenter Tyler Despain is the owner and founder of Physher Cybersecurity, a local IT and cybersecurity business. He has been working in cybersecurity and IT for ten years. During that time, he has set up and secured business networks and educated employees about cybersecurity risks.
Emergency Preparedness. This session highlights the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and family emergencies. The discussion will cover documents to have ready for a variety of emergency situations as well as the items needed to be prepared to shelter in place or leave your home.
Presenter Renee Wheaton is the Senior Resource Navigator at the Gibson Center in No. Conway, NH. She is a retired high school biology teacher, who moved to New Hampshire from Iowa in 2017. Having experienced numerous natural disasters first-hand, Renee is passionate about sharing her tips for preparedness.
Estate and Long-Term Care Planning. This workshop is designed to effectively plan for the future, ensuring peace of mind and financial security. Discussion will include key elements of estate planning, retirement planning, advanced directives, various options and strategies for paying for long-term care, and how to pass your assets outside the probate process.
Presenter Mark J. Nale is an Elder Law Attorney at Nale Law Offices in Waterville and has practiced law in Maine for 40 years. Mark speaks frequently to professional and community groups, serves on the Heritage Board of the Alfond Center and has past service on numerous boards of directors in Maine. Co-presenter Matthew J. Nale is also an Elder Law Attorney at Nale Law Offices in Waterville. He worked on the Volunteer Lawyers Project and helped to improve legal access for low-income Maine veterans.
Funerals: Know Your Options. When a death occurs, most people don’t know that there are other options besides calling a funeral director. This session will help you become aware of all the options available to support making an informed decision about your end-of-life choices.
Presenter Chuck Lakin is a volunteer with Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine and retired college librarian, as well as a woodworker who makes coffins. Chuck teaches that it’s a gift to your survivors to establish a plan, write it down and have a conversation with your survivors about those wishes.
Medicare Made Easy. With many Medicare plan options available, it can be difficult to know the best choices for your health needs. Learn how to navigate the different options, coverage costs, enrollment periods, and resources available to Medicare beneficiaries.
Presenter Brandi Connor-Vargeson is the SeniorsPlus Medicare Supervisor. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from Elmira College. Brandi has spent the past 5 years doing case management for a wide population of clients and is passionate about sharing her Medicare experience.