Dubliners

March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2007; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hancock County Higher Education Center

James Joyce's collection of short stories, Dubliners, was accepted for publication 100 years ago. It would be another 8 years, however, before the book appeared for Joyces work was never readily welcomed by the publishing or reading world. It consistes of 15 theematically united stores and presents a catalog of Dublin characters. They contain a full range of human experiences and are filed with humor as well as pathos. The course will include a showing of John Huston's film adaptation of the final story, "The Dead". Course leader: Nancy MacKnight, PH.D is a retired University of Maine English professor and administrator. She holds degrees from Vassar College, Columbia University, & Harvard Graduate School of Education. DSC contact: Jay Horschak, 963-7832.

Muslims in the Middle Ages

April 9, 16, 23 30, 2007; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hancock County Higher Education Center

We all know vaguely that we are indebted to Arabic scholarship for many of our most important intellectual and scientific concepts, but not always how, when and why. For 4 weeks, we will look at various high points in the history of Muslim life and work around the Mediterranean basin, form the 8th century to the days of Ferdinand and Isabella, who put a stop to it. The main source of knowledge in our exploration will be an account of the Muslim presence in Spain, The Ornament of the World, by Maria Rosa Menocal. In addition to this account of a thriving culture of medieval Spain where Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived, worked and created together, we will look in some detail at the Alhambra and the Muslim colonization of different regions of the Mediterranean coast. We will consider the role that Arabic speakers of the idle Ages played in preserving the classical Greek philosophers for the West. Participants who have traveled in that part of the world and brought back pictures relating in some way to our topic are encouraged to bring them along. Instructor: Gertrud Champe, PH.D, is retired from the University of Iowa, where she taught scholarly and technical translation for 20 years. Her interest in the Arab world began in her student days during a brief visit to North Africa and other travels around the Mediterranean. DSC Contact: Mary Jordon, 422-6877.

Design Your Own Web Page

April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2007; 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Hancock County Higher Education Center

Students will work in teams of two to learn, practice & understand Web page design, using an HTML-based tutorial (HTML is the acronym for Hypertext Mark-up Language). No previous experience necessary except how to read & push buttons. All will be explained & practiced. Instructor: Diana Gazis, PH.D, a retired medical school professor, has a long experience with computer systems, and has written programs in a number of computer languages, including Basic, Fortran, C++, and PostScript. DSC Contact: Diana Gazis, 422-3697.

The World of Children's Books

April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1, 2007; 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Hancock County Higher Education Center & onsite visits.

Meet family members of famous writers & illustrators; visit a well-known publisher; hear about printed collections of personal letters from noted authors; and learn about today's "best sellers" from a children's librarian. Guest Speakers: Jane Morse (on her book "Beatrix Potter's Americans; Selected Letters"); Martha White (on her book, "The Letters of E.B. White - Revised Edition") Jane McCloskey (Maine Environmentalist); Mary Beth Dorsey (children's librarian); & Jane Weinberger (Windswept House Publishers). DSC Contact: Mary Jordon, 422-6877.

Write On!

March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2007; 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ellsworth City Hall (top floor)

For beginning to advanced writers. Work on your novel, memoirs, journal, or just enjoy the pleasure of writing. Passionate, precise writing is a joy to create and a pleasure to read. Using The Writing Life, by Annie Dillard as a test, and the writings of Linda Metcalf and Tobin Simon of the proprioceptive Writing Institute, learn to eliminate writer's block, explore voice, style and subject matter, and skillfully mine a line of thought and feeling for writing that crackles with insight and originality. Writing will be done in class (no computers) and shared in an informal setting at the author's pleasure without critiquing. Instructor: Peggy Emigh has written for many years in Proprioceptive Writing groups with Metcalf and Simon and is a confirmed writer. Text: The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. DSC Contact: Peggy Emigh, 422-9006.

The Trailor Truck Revealed (outing)

April 4, 2007; 10:00 AM
Meet in Parking lot.

Those contemplating part-time work or perhaps, even a second career might consider a life on the road. Tales of adventure await the graduate of trailer truck schools. We will meet with Scott Adams, an instructor at the Hancock County Technical Center for a demonstration of the mighty road behemoths. Backing-up with precision doubtless tests even the most confident of drivers. You will be able to sit at the wheel & imagine honking and passing lowly motorists. Requite your curiosity — if not fantasy — with this peek. Photo-ops welcomed. Field trip to the Hancock County Technical Center on Boggy Brook Road for the Tractor Trailer. Instructor: Scott Adams. DSC Contact: Sturgis Haskins, 422-6233.

Highway Construction (outing)

April 18, 2007
Meet at University Center Parking Lot.

Has your curiosity been piqued by all those large, noisy, construction machines? Do you have a favorite flagger? Are you clueless about the subtleties of road design? Some satisfaction possible as we visit the Route 1 road-widening project in Sullivan. DSC Contact: Peggy Emigh, 422-9006.

Marshall Island (outing)

April 25, 2007
Meet at University Center Parking Lot.

Marshall Island, at the time of its recent purchase by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, was the largest undeveloped and unprotected island on the nation's Eastern Seaboard. Located between Swan's Island and Isle au Haut, it has 981 acres of meadow and woodland and 7 miles of beach. This remote island is not often visited, thus a privileged treat. DSC Contact: Jay Horschak, 963-7832.

Summer Islands (Part 1)

May 9, 16, 23, 2007
Times to be determined

Maine Islands often prompt an image of tradition, timelessness and quiet, carefree pleasure. This series will explore local islands primarily kept as summer retreats. We will visit three private islands; Barlett's (May 9th), Sutton's (May 16th), and Pond (May 23rd). Because access to these islands is limited, it is likely that additional fees will be charged. As summer floats may not have been launched, participants must be prepared to land by rowboat over slippery rocks. Some agility, too, will be required to navigate island trails (where winter blow-downs might have occurred.) All participants must be physically fit and prepared for unexpected weather and sea changes. Please be mindful, too, that weather conditions may prompt postponement. Logistics will be handled by Lawrence DeMilner, 422-8207. Part II, this fall, will likely include Great Spruce Head Island, off Deer Isle, and two other islands (negotiations pending). Independent registration each term. Leaders: Sturgis Haskins, 422-6233, and Sydney Roberts Rockefeller, 276-5650.

Farnsworth Art Museum (Outing)

May 10, 2007
Meet at 9:00 AM Hancock County Higher Education Center to organize.

The Farnsworth's museum complex, in Rockland, is one of the finest regional art museums in New England. Its collections contain important works by significant American painters with special emphasis on those with a Maine connection. This month's major exhibit — FACTORY WORK — features the work of Warhol, Wyeth, and Basquia (the latter is a grafitti artist). We will also visit the Wyeth annex across the street, which is devoted to three generations of that family's work. Several restaurants are within a short walk to the Museum. DSC Contact: Cynthia Perkins, 422-6263.

Course Still Under Development: Modern Art from MOMA

An instructor from the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan will, through interactive television at the University Center in Ellsworth, show paintings from their collection and discuss various aspects of modern art. This is our first attempt to run a distance learning course, using resources and instructors from outside our local area. (We can't set the dates and times for this until we can coordinate MOMA available times.) DSC Contact: Gail Gilchrist, 963-4002.