IN PERSON AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM

This program will focus on the innovative, experiential, and affordable education programs that the Boothbay Sea and Science Center offers to youth ages 5 -17.  These programs are focused on opening doors of opportunity for students, instructors, and teachers with hands-on learning, instilling lifelong skills and creating career pathways in STEM fields.  

Pauline Dion is co-founder and executive director of the Boothbay Sea and  Science Center. A passionate lifelong sailor, Pauline chaired the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Junior Sailing and Tennis programs from 2005 – 2012. Pauline received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (with an emphasis in Adult Oncology) from Salve Regina College, and earned a Masters Degree with an emphasis in Nursing Education from Boston College School of Nursing. She has served as a Clinical Nursing Instructor at several hospitals including St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (Brighton, MA), Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA), and Maine Medical Center (Portland, ME).  

ZOOM

This course will be a discussion class on the nature of philosophy from the viewpoint of the first philosophers and the opinions and thoughts of the students.  

Anita was brought up in Lewiston, attended St. Dominic's High School, earned a B.A. from Rivier College in Nashua, NH and a Masters from Rhode Island College. She taught Social Studies in several overseas International Schools, the last of which was Seoul Foreign School where she taught Philosophy courses  

IN PERSON AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM

African Americans have actively resisted racism and inequity in their lives and throughout Maine’s history. This presentation focuses on Black Mainers’ persistence, resilience, and resistance to oppression by exploring a few of the stories of Black Mainers who have been important parts of our communities from the Revolutionary War period through the early 20th Century.

Alex Magnaud is an educator for the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine (HHRC). She has a Bachelor’s in Educational Studies from Colgate University and a Master’s in Childhood and Special Education from the College of Saint Rose and has worked as an educator in a variety of roles and settings. In her role with the HHRC, Alex does educational programming for students, educators and community members throughout the state. 

(Thanks to the Holocaust and Human Rights Center for generously making this presentation available to us.)

IN PERSON AT THE LEWISTON-AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE PUBLIC THEATRE

Lewiston-Auburn Senior College is partnering with The Public Theatre to offer a unique opportunity for you to get a behind-the scenes look at a thrilling stage adaptation of Stephen King’s MISERY, the first play in The Public Theatre’s 2025-26 season, The Theatre will be offering us a sneak peek into the rehearsal process, including the chance to ask questions about the experience of how much work it takes to produce a professional play.

You may have read Stephen King’s best-selling psychological thriller or seen the Oscar-winning film adapted by William Goldman (Marathon Man), but nothing compares to seeing the story play out live on stage. Truth is stranger than fiction when a famous romance novelist veers off the road in a winter storm and wakes up incapacitated in the home of his “number one fan.” A heart-pounding life or death game of cat and mouse quickly ensues as his number one fan unexpectedly becomes his number one enemy.

Session One: October 8, 11-1 at the Chamber of Commerce Conference Room (415 Lisbon Street, a short walk from the Public Theatre). A two-hour discussion about the themes and content of the play.  How does it differ from its source material?  How are the events from the book and the movie depicted on stage in front of an audience?  How do we give a sense of time and place on the stage, without the book’s narration and the film’s ability to be virtually anywhere?  We will also include a sneak peek of set and costume designs for the play. After the discussion, we will travel over to the Public Theatre to see the set “in progress.”  Experience up close the amazing craftsmanship of the set designers and builders.

Session Two: October 15 (at the Public Theatre, time TBA) A Rehearsal Sneak Peek:  Attend a short piece of rehearsal to watch the script transition from page to stage.  See the Director work with the actors to make the story come to life.

Session Three:  October 26 (at the Public Theatre, 2pm) Attend a matinee performance of MISERY, which will be followed by a post-show discussion with cast members, led by The Public Theatre’s Artistic Director, Janet Mitchko. (Cost of matinee ticket is covered by tuition for the course.)

Reading:  

NOTE:  A familiarity with MISERY is helpful, but reading the book or seeing the movie is not a prerequisite for participation.  Participants will be asked to read the play’s script prior to the first session.  It is available in one of four ways: 

• You may purchase the script for $13 at Dramatists https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=5493
• You may read it free on line at: https://www.scribd.com/document/852716717/Misery-Script
• You can sign out one of 2 copies for 3 days at the Public Theatre.  Please call ahead to reserve the copy for pickup at 782-2211.
• The Lewiston Public Library has ordered copies of the script for borrowing.

Ray Dumont is Executive Director of The Public Theatre in Lewiston, Maine 

Janet Mitchko is Artistic Director of The Public Theatre in Lewiston, Maine

IN PERSON AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ZOOM 

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM

"Making the Invisible Visible: A Photovoice Project by Black Elders in Maine" is a storytelling project undertaken by Black Elders to challenge the  invisibility of 'aging while Black' in Maine. Leslie Hill, Project Facilitator will describe the PV process from choosing focus questions, coaching in basic photography, sharing stories about the meaning of pictures taken, to celebrating the richness of Black older adults' experiences of and contributions to life in Maine. Learn in this session about the meaning and impact of storytelling with images.    

Leslie Hill, Bates College Professor Emerita and convener of the Black Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) Elders Group, led the work on this MCOA project.

ZOOM

Having hiked in Montana’s Glacier National Park, I was so taken by its beauty that I vowed to see more of the Rocky Mountains. Thus, I planned a hiking trip to the Canadian Rockies. The Canadian Rockies are truly a natural wonder with unparalleled panoramas of glaciers; ice-capped peaks; waterfalls; wildlife; alpine lakes; and mountains decorated in hues of greens and yellows from the profusion of aspen, larch, pine, spruce, and fir trees. Over a span of 11 days, I, and a few friends, went on exceptional hikes in several different national parks. We strayed from tourist spots as often as possible to experience pristine, wilderness areas for which the Canadian Rockies are so well known.

Eve Fralick began her career as a United States Air Force officer traveling internationally to develop and implement multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art, telecommunications programs. After leaving the military, she worked in healthcare technology and as an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University's Graduate School of Business. She holds Master degrees in Public Health and Systems Management. Eve's passion is hiking far off the beaten path around the world. She develops, and presents, travelogues of her adventures to libraries, assisted living facilities, senior colleges, and other organizations.

IN PERSON AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM

Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance and Penobscot Nation tribal citizen Maulian Bryant (she/her) will lead a lecture and discussion on the Wabanaki tribal nations and the quest to restore important rights around sovereignty and self determination. She will analyze history and policy, make recommendations for how to heal the relationship between the tribes and the state, and share about upcoming work and how to stay informed. She invites questions and conversation.

ZOOM

We will use buttons (colored or painted buttons), decorated straight pins, jewelry (stud earrings, holiday pins like angels,Christmas trees, etc.), broken necklaces or Mardi Gras beads to create a sparkling Christmas centerpiece.

Supplies you will need: 

• Band- aids.
• Styrofoam cone 9 inches.
• Options to prepare the cone - buy a colored cone, or paint the cone ahead of time, or cover with fabric by folding and pinning. Glue or pin a felt circle to the base. 
• Buttons- 300-500 buttons , less if you use larger ones. You can paint some red, green, etc. ahead of time.
• Beads -plastic or glass (You need as many beads as you have buttons.  Some suggested beads - white round beads- 4 and 8 mm, clear round beads - small green, red, blue ring shaped, etc.)
• Pins (1 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch, about 500 in total, white and colored  straight ball headed or corsage pins)
• Assorted baubles- rhinestones, earrings, broken necklaces, holiday decorative pins like angels, bells, Christmas trees, stars, Mardi Gras beaded necklaces, etc.
• Check Mardens, Amazon, etc. for supplies

Valerie has enjoyed the Senior College Art Classes for over 6 years and has learned about many art styles that have stimulated her own creativity, ways that art can bring you peace and a sense of accomplishment.