BETHEL – Western Mountains Senior College has an array of new classes and workshops as well as some ongoing interest groups, scheduled this fall.

College members and those interested in joining senior college may sign up for courses at the annual meeting to be held from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Gehring House, 77 Broad St.

Courses include:

“Great Decisions”: An eight-week study group of reading and discussion on four “hot” topics. The classes will be held from 10 a.m. to noon starting Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Gehring House. Facilitators include Peter Gartner, Jackie Cressy, Jim McLean and Henry Stewart.

“The Bard-Aloud!”: A six-week class where participants will read Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” for the pleasure of the language. Classes will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon beginning Friday, Sept. 21, SAD 44 Adult Learning Center. Suzanne Taylor will facilitate.

“Explorations in Spirituality Study Group”: Sixth course of study from 10 a.m. to noon beginning Friday, Sept. 28, meeting every other week at SAD 44 Adult Learning Center. The group will take turns facilitating as they read “The Biology of Transcendence” by Joseph Chilton Pearce.

“Literature and Poetry Study Group”: Focus on “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Classes will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. starting Wednesday, Sept. 26, Gould Academy Hanscom Hall, four weeks. Bonney Pooley will facilitate.

Western Mountains Senior Players: Fourth session from 2 to 4 p.m. starting Thursday, Sept. 27, Gehring House. Players will meet weekly for eight weeks, hold dress rehearsals Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, and perform Saturday, Dec. 8, and Sunday, Dec. 9. Lynn Arizzi will direct.

“Socrates Philosophy Study Group”: Meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, Gould Alumni House, Church Street, to determine its future direction. The group is open to the public.

Many events are free and open to the public, with donations requested to offset senior college expenses. The events to date include:

“Down Home”: A new season will be held on the first Thursday of each month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Gehring House, co-sponsored by the Bethel Historical Society. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be offered. The tentative schedule of speakers include: Oct. 4, Marvin Collins, “Snow-making at Sunday River”; Nov. 1, Jim Mann, “Gems of the Maine Mountains”; Dec. 6, Larry Warren, “Hut-to-Hut from Bethel to Moosehead Lake”; and Jan. 3, Sarah Wight, “Women for Women.”

“To Your Health” series: Problems associated with dementia. “Understanding Dementia, Part I,” will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, and will focus on the diagnosis and stages of dementia. “Understanding Dementia, Part II” will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20, and will focus on what is needed to make life better for the caregiver. Both workshops will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Garland Chapel, West Parish Congregational Church, Church Street.

“To Your Health” will also feature a field trip to the Mahoosic Guide Service in Newry on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Participants will learn more about “Dogs: Why They Make Us Feel So Good.”

For more information, contact J. Cressy at 824-0508 or P. Gartner at 665-2181.