IN PERSON AT LA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Whatever we think about immigration into the United States now and in the past, we can agree, I think, that immigration has shaped the character of the United States and also that immigration is implicated in much of the partisan divide we have today.

Issues of economic growth and fiscal health, crime, climate, culture change, racial, religious and national identity (among others) are all connected to immigration matters.

Positions around immigration defy easy labelling of ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative.’ In six short weeks, this course will try to help its participants find their bearings in the immigration debate. 

Doug Bennett taught political theory and public policy at Temple University, Reed College, and Earlham College for 25 years. From 1997 to his retirement in 2011 he was president of Earlham College. He holds a B.A. from Haverford College and Ph.D. in political science from Yale University. Now living in Topsham, he is a member of Durham Friends Meeting (Quakers).  

IN PERSON AT THE LA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE LEWISTON 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 an exciting new play called "Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk" based on the famous novel Grandma Gatewood’s Walk, a Pulitzer Prize finalist.  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 play at a professional theatre.

In 1955 at the age of 67, Emma Gatewood told her children she was “going for a walk.” and set out with her duffel bag, shower curtain and a pair of Keds sneakers to walk the Appalachian Trail. Two thousand miles later, she became the first woman to solo hike 14 states from Georgia to the top of Mt Katahdin. Featuring flashbacks from her life as well as her time on the trail, don’t miss the New England premiere of this true and inspiring adventure celebrating the resiliency of the human spirit and the courage required to walk into the unknown.

Session one: Thursday April 23, 11:00-1:00, LA Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, 415 Lisbon Street, Lewiston (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 do we create the Appalachian Trail onstage, as well as the flashbacks from her life including her years of domestic abuse?  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: Wednesday April 29 at the Public Theatre, 4-5 PM.  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:  Sunday May 10th, 2 PM.  Attend a matinee performance of Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk, 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.). NOTE: This performance is on Mothers Day.  If you would prefer to attend a different performance, please contact the Box Office.  

Prerequisite Reading: Participants will be asked to read the play’s script prior to the first session.  It is available in one of two ways:

1. You may read it free on line at: https://thepublictheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Grandma-Gatewood-Final-Draft-Script_PW.pdf.  Password (all lower case) is lapub2526. 

2. You can sign out one of 3 copies for 3 days at the Public Theatre.  Please call ahead to reserve the copy for pickup at 782-2211.

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-LEWISTON AIRPORT

You’ve heard the expression, “Keep looking up!” Well, in this class we take it literally! Equipped only with your eyes and a sense of curiosity, there are dozens of beautiful and interesting natural sights that can be found just by looking at the sky. In this course, we’ll survey a large sample of these sights and learn how to identify and name them, and facts about how they form.

The Course is divided into three weekly, two-hour classes. We’ll start with "Cloud Watching," in which we’ll examine the huge variety of shapes, sizes, and forms that clouds can have, learn a basic identification system, and a few basic (and surprising!) principles behind their formation. Next, we’ll explore "Atmospheric Optics." The play of light on water drops, dust or ice crystals in the atmosphere produces a host of visual spectacles - rainbows, halos, glories, coronas and many more. Some can be seen almost every day or so, some are very rare. Find out where to see them and how they are formed. Last, "The Night Sky" introduces you to a small selection of the best and brightest astronomical sights you can enjoy using only your naked eyes: the Moon, Meteors, The Bright Planets, and Stars and Constellations. These objects can be seen even in suburbs with moderate light pollution. No telescope or other optical aid needed!

The goal of this course is to generate inspiration, awareness, and insight about the many natural phenomena that can be discovered and enjoyed, simply by keeping an eye on the sky throughout the course of a year.  

Alan is a nature and science enthusiast who's been fascinated by sights in the sky his whole life. He's a Maine Master Naturalist (Class of 2013, hosted by Bates College in Lewiston), a certified National Weather Service SKYWARN Storm Spotter, and an official CoCoRaHS Observer. He's a lifelong Mainer and lives in Lisbon with his wife, Linda .

IN PERSON AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY

In this course, an experienced lighting designer will explain the elements of lighting design for a lay audience. He will use photos of actual plays he has lit to illustrate how lighting can create many different effects. You will never watch a play again without noticing the lighting!  

Brackley Frayer is an emeritus professor of theatre at Univeristy of Nevada at Las Vegas. He has an MFA in Lighting Design from Yale Drama School, extensive experience in theatrical lighting design, and has worked at regional professional theatres throughout the US and abroad. In May, he is lighting the Public Theatre play "Granny Gatewood Takes a Walk". His brother Bill is glad to host him for the two weeks he will be working at the Public Theatre