What's Happening at Maine's Senior Colleges

Saturday, October 24 3:30 p.m. auction preview 4-6 p.m. bidding Waldo County Shrine Club 20 Northport Ave., Belfast $10 Belfast Senior College will hold a Fun(d)raising Party & Auction Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the Waldo County Shrine Club, 20 Northport Ave., Belfast. Auction preview starts at 3:30 p.m. Bidding will take place from 4 - 6 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to stay for a while after 6 p.m. to socialize with others. Anyone is invited to the party. Attendees

Fridays, Oct. 9, 16, 23 1-2:30 p.m. Online via Zoom $15 South Coast Senior College Tap into the wisdom of two gentlemen whose last name happens to be Berry: Thomas Berry, the late self-named geologion who is considered one of the fathers of the modern environmental movement, especially in the area of eco-spirituality; and Wendell Berry, who turned 95 recently, a farmer/philosopher/poet who not only speaks to our environmental crisis but to many of the deeper issues we continu

AI Image by Sheila Krautkremer from MS 365 Copilot Tuesdays September 29, October 6, 13, 20 Tuesdays 4:00 – 5:30 PM Location: Zoom (not recorded due to movie copyright) Cost: $35.00 with PVSC or other MSCN membership Don't let this course disappear before you register! If you are a member of any Maine Senior College Network (MSCN) college, and not a member of Penobscot Valley Senior College (PVSC), please email the PVSC office with your name, email, phone, and mailing address

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine, Portland (OLLI) is once again offering its SAGE Lecture Series September 15-November 3. The SAGE Lecture Series features a diverse and engaging set of speakers who explore contemporary issues and evolving cultural activities. The SAGE Lecture Series is open to the public. It is offered in-person at USM Portland or online via Zoom. Cost is $15 per lecture. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy our fall lineup: Septembe

Image by Sadheesh Kumar Sankar from Pixabay Thursdays, September 24 through October 29 9:30 a.m. Online via Zoom (in-person gathering may be available) $45 Belfast Senior College We’ve gone to the moon, made computers and fought cancer, but the one issue nobody has ever solved is the eternal question: What to have for dinner? Because humans need food, getting it has been the source of most history. Innocuous items in your pantry — tea, pepper, bananas —actually changed the wo

Please enjoy some information included in the PVSC Voice, our bi‑monthly newsletter that highlights "What’s Happening" at Penobscot Valley Senior College. You’ll find information about the some of the Summer Extravaganza Variety and Field Trips that were held to date. Look below for the full listing of the 16 course titles and instructors offered during the Fall Term. Most courses begin the week of September 28, with a few starting the week before. (1) Exploring Short Stories

Thursdays, September 3-17, 1-3 p.m. $25 Auburn Public Library, Androscoggin Room Lewiston Auburn Senior College International Observe the Moon Night (IOMN), September 19, encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon. In the weeks leading up to the event, discover the Moon's origin, structure, and motion. And observe its activities while learning how to use binoculars and telescopes for stargazing. As a bonus, instructor Alan Seamans, Maine Master Natura

Friday, September 11, 10-11:30 a.m. $10 MSCN members; $15 non-members Hybrid course, Univ. of Maine at Machias room SCI 102 or via Zoom Sunrise Senior College At 63, Jill Chalsty boarded a ship alone, grieving her husband’s death and battling cancer. What began as a voyage around the world became far more than a trip. In this lecture, Jill shares the story behind her memoir "Packets of Hope," inviting participants to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the peo

Belfast Senior College summer class registration opens June 23 at 10 a.m. Classes start July 7. Biodanza. Credit: Gabriel Baldwin Enjoy classes like: Rockability Stroll Learn to Draw Biodanza: Dance of Life Bridge Basics Three Famous Social Psych Experiments Political Movies Explore Sears Island Gentle Chair Yoga Find out more: Belfast Senior College, (207) 707-6010, 9 Field St., Suite 330

Online registration Wednesday, June 3, 10 a.m. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USM Summer is just around the corner. Why not spend it taking a class, joining a creative workshop, or visiting a local treasure? The Osher Lifelong Learning Insitute summer catalog is online and ready for browsing. Pick what interests you the most, and be ready for online registration to open at 10 a.m. on June 3. Not an OLLI member? That's ok. Members of Maine's senior colleges can re

Sunrise Senior College is pleased to host a lecture and tour of the Downeast Institute’s Marine Research Laboratory, Hatchery and Education Center located in Beals, ME. Scheduled for April 30 starting at 10 a.m. the lecture will be available by Zoom. Kyle Pepperman, Executive Director, will discuss the work being done at the easternmost Marine Research Laboratory in the U.S. Participants will learn about the different types of clams, mussels, lobsters, oysters, scallops, and

I want to add an invitation to anyone interested in joining us at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Erica will be there in person and we will have lunch after the class. It is going to be hybrid so you do not have to. It usually doesn't snow in May and with Spring budding out, it is a beautiful trip. Oh, you can visit the planets, moons and the sun (located on the UMPI campus) located along Rte 1, to entertain you the last 40ish miles. Erica will take us through the

On April 16, 2026, members of the Gold LEAF Institute visited artist and printmaker Meredith Mustard at her Two Imagine Studio in Farmington, Maine. Participants experienced a unique demonstration of printmaking using a specially prepared gelatin, or Gelli plate. They were fascinated by the layering techniques and the creative process behind producing these one-of-a-kind works of art. Many members were inspired as they observed the transformation of color and texture through

This in-person, two-session class—held on April 8, 2026, with a second session scheduled for April 22—was offered by Deb Stahler and Cathy Wimett. The class explored the rich characters, evocative settings, and thought-provoking themes found in Louise Penny’s mysteries. Participants enjoyed discussing the beloved details of the series—from memorable questions and relationships to the ever-present dogs and ducks that bring the village to life. Together, the group let their

On April 9, 2026, Gold LEAF Institute offered a 2 session digital hybrid class. GLI hosted A License to Browse: Safety While You Scroll , presented by Tyler Provencher, Program Coordinator for the Greater Franklin Digital Literacy Program in Farmington, Maine. The first session, Tyler focused on built-in safety features and settings for smartphones, laptops, and tablets, while also guiding participants through the expansive landscape of the internet, smart devices, and the gr

May 7 and May 14 10:00 AM to Noon Hybrid Free and membership not required. The mission of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine is to promote universal respect for human rights through outreach and education. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other events, past and present, we encourage individuals and communities to reflect and act upon their moral responsibilities to confront prejudice, intolerance, and discrimination. Erica will take us through the F

Gold LEAF Institute and Sandra Garson offered 6 sessions on the Pathways of Resistance on February 17, 24, March 3, 20, 17, and 24, 2026. Zoom class. Sandra Garson’s informative presentation used the Nazi era as a lens to understand how authoritarianism can emerge and how it can be resisted. She showed that resistance took many forms. Religious communities often served as moral anchors, with clergy and congregations opposing Nazi ideology and, at times, helping protect those

Ted Wright, owner of Ted Wright Forest Services, delivered an informative Zoom presentation on March 31, 2026, to members of the Gold LEAF Institute. Drawing on his extensive experience as a licensed forester, Ted shared valuable insights from his work with landowners and his strong advocacy for sustainable forestry practices. He emphasized the vital role that working forests and rural economies play in connecting Maine’s small landowners with emerging carbon finance opportun

Gold LEAF Institute participated in the Business Showcase event on Saturday, March 28, 2026, held at the Mt. Blue High School gym. GLI took this opportunity to conduct outreach, share information about the benefits of becoming a member, and provide insight into the wide variety of self-enrichment classes offered. Attendees had the chance to connect with a diverse range of local business owners, learn about community services, discover new products, and build valuable connecti

On March 26, 2026, the Gold LEAF Institute held a class titled “Understanding Climate Change and the Sandy River,” presented by Amanda Simoneau, Franklin County Emergency Management Director, and Sara Bickford of Somerset Emergency Management. Hosted at their new facility, the session highlighted the impact of recent flooding, offered practical mitigation strategies, and explored the connection between climate change and its effects on the Sandy River. The presentation was bo