Literary Union hears about divorce mediation
The March 24 meeting of the Woman’s Literary Union was held at Park Danforth on Stevens Avenue, Portland. Anne Harwood’s interesting subject was “Divorce Mediation.”
She completed the certificate program in mediation at the University of Southern Maine and she is a licensed clinical worker with a masters in social work from the University of New England. After a year of volunteering for different agencies, she was approved to mediate family causes and small claims for the district court. After two years working for the court, she opened a private mediation practice. She and her business partner mediate divorces. She says that the work is interesting and challenging.
She is a firm believer in nonviolence. She told us that in Maine it takes 61 days to finalize after filing for a divorce. In California, the time it takes is six months.
There are two kinds of mediation: one is court mediation. Anne Harwood mediates in her office, which is more relaxing for those involved. There is a lot of paperwork involved in divorce cases, too, and mediators help with that.
Most clients ask Harwood and her partner to write up their agreements. Most mediation sessions last about two hours; complex issues usually require more than one session.
One client said, about Anne and her partner: “thank you for your time, your compassion and your expertise in what has been a very difficult situation for me. I am incredibly sad that my marriage is over, but you two were very helpful in answering questions and moving us forward.”
Woman’s Literary Union members asked several questions after Anne’s talk and found it an interesting subject to learn about.
A look at Katrina’s wrath
When our Deering High School Class of 1936 reunion committee met last fall at Alicia Wilbur Watson’s home in Yarmouth, she told us our classmate Stanley Holland, lived in Mississippi near the Gulf of Mexico, and she had called him after Hurricane Katrina and learned that his home was badly damaged.
I then wrote to Stan, an excellent violinist, who took lessons from Bertha Nichols, as I did, and we both played in the Deering High School orchestra.
This is the write-up under his picture in our 1936 yearbook:
“Beginning as president of the freshman class, “Dutch”, our dashing hero, has distinguished himself in the orchestra, cadets, glee and ski clubs, and has been one of Deering’s most popular students.”
Aren’t those nice comments!
I was pleased to receive Stan’s letter in February, telling of his career since DHS days, and of his plans for their new winter residence.
He was “in Aviation Ordinance in 1941, snagged Janet during an assignment at Baer Field, Ft. Wayne, marriage in September (this year marks our 65th anniversary)., then Pearl Harbor and three years in the southwest Pacific; 18 years in Philadelphia suburbs, 30 years, in Manhasset, Long Island, then retirement in Diamond Head, Miss., in 1994. Most of my career was as a manufacturer’s representative, involving bearings, gears, etc. Janet completed college at Beaver College, Glenside, Penn., after our third child, then an assistantship at Penn leading to a master’s in reading, then a career at Hofstra University, teaching and testing. I turned over my violin to Susan – my rheumatoid arthritic fingers couldn’t reach the finger board. Right now we think we have a buyer for our Diamondhead house and are considering a home here in Nellysford, Va. Our cottage in Eagles Mere, Pa, will continue, during the summer months.”
Stan said, “Sorry we can’t make the DHS 70th reunion, but our thoughts will be there.”
He enclosed a copy of his Christmas letter, detailing their Katrina experiences:
“Katrina! She changed our life,” he wrote. “Dead center on the path of Camille, 1969, Diamondhead Miss., our domain, was five miles from the Gulf of Mexico, 3 and-a-half miles from the Bay of St. Louis and 12 feet above mean high tide. The surge was 20 plus feet, reaching the second floor of our beautiful Cape Cod house. The house withstood the wind, except for some trees on the garage roof. The first floor was totaled, walls, carpets, furniture, paintings, and things we had collected over a lifetime (photo albums, etc.). Our SUV, golf cart, and Janet’s fur coat were insured, but who needs flood insurance, 12 feet above mean high tide.”
“Molly (his daughter), in real estate and living 45 miles away (undamaged) took care of us in the cleanup,” he continued. “The damage done at Diamondhead and on the Miss., coast was indescribable. We were safe on our mountain top in Eagle Mere, Penn., which will become our domain and summer residence.”
We classmates of Stan’s are so glad that they are OK, and I really appreciated his letter, and am glad that their children are so helpful to them.
RECIPE
This recipe is from the April 16, 1980 American Journal. It was given to us by Florence Wing. It was served to the Pairs and Spares Club at the Highland Lake Congregational Church. Florence said it was very tasty.
RHODA’S POTATO PIZZA
1 lb. hamburg
4 cups thinly sliced potatoes
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 jar spaghetti sauce (or make your own)
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese.
Brown the hamburg and drain. Combine the cheese soup with 1/2 cup milk. Mix together with the hamburg and potatoes and spread in a 9×13 inch pan.
Pour sauce over, but do not mix in. cover with foil and cook 45 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven, sprinkle with cheese and return to oven uncovered for 15 minutes or until the cheese melts.
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