Meet 2 ‘Silver Frame’ winners to be reckoned with

The winners of the Eastern Area Agency on Aging George Hale Silver Frame Awards have been chosen – and there was no shortage of nominees in the Artistic Creative category.

The 60-75 age group was won by Elsie Sealander, Blue Hill.

“Elsie Sealander is a creative force to be reckoned with,” wrote Robyn Sealander, Elsie’s niece and nominator. “Elsie has been studying sumi-e painting, a Japanese technique, and has also worked in watercolor. She has taken courses from several local artists. She avidly knits and crochets, and has instructed my daughter in the various subtleties of these crafts.”

Elsie also creates works of art for her family.

“She had one of her brush paintings turned into a silkscreen and then had T-shirts made,” wrote Sealander. “The serpentine design is rendered in black and features Elsie’s “chop” – a Chinese seal bearing her name – in bright red. I love that she found a way to share her art with so many people, and in such a practical and fun way.”

When Elsie moved to Blue Hill, she worked hard on her garden to make it a work of art.

“She brought vanload after vanload of plants up while her home was under construction, thereby managing to continue decades of gardening work she had already accomplished,” wrote Sealander. “She created an extensive plan for her new garden, and was able to bring it to life before she had even moved into the house.”

And Elsie taught her niece all aspects of horticulture, “from caring for houseplants and starting seeds, to planning a vegetable garden and planting bulbs. She is an invaluable source of inspiration and information,” Sealander wrote. Elsie is a teacher, of course, but she is also a lifelong student and she has a creative and curious mind. I am honored to know Elsie.”

In the 76-and-older category, the winner is Mary Hunter, Bangor.

“She is such an inspiration to all who know her,” wrote Lorna Sirois, her friend and nominator. “She has volunteered more than 70 years. Through volunteering she cheers, inspires and encourages people to use their own creativity. This is what she lovingly convinces even strangers to find their own creativity, create by their own hands, to show love and caring to others.”

Hunter volunteers her time and talents daily at Stillwater Health Care, Bangor, and has a consistently positive attitude. She has also volunteered at “other nursing homes, schools, the Bangor-Hampden Children’s parade, the Bangor State Fair, Little League, Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Sunday school programs and even for veterans,” wrote Sirois.

Hunter always uses her creativity to help other people in need. Her endeavors include making potholders for new families just staring out after being homeless, making puppets for students with special needs, crafting book bags out of scraps of cloth for children at Head Start, weaving projects for Head Start and elementary schools in New Hampshire and Maine, making African music makers, making lap blankets for nursing home residents, and making quilts for nursing homes and veterans programs for them to raffle off for extra money for arts and crafts classes.

Hunter has participated in several Make A Difference days and uses jigsaw puzzles to teach children with disabilities. She also has given Made in Maine gifts to returning soldiers from Desert Storm and Iraq wars.

“Mary is truly an angel sent to share God’s love and mercy, with kindness and understanding,” Sirois said.

Every winner is a tribute to what can be accomplished in one’s golden years. All of us at EAAA continue to be inspired by the activities of our elders. Congratulations.

Carol Higgins Taylor is director of communications at Eastern Area Agency on Aging. E-mail Higgins Taylor at chtaylor@eaaa.org. For information on EAAA, call 941-2865, toll-free 800-432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on EAAA.org. TTY 992-0150.