A Death Cafe is a safe place where you, your family, and your friends can share stories, question reality, and hear new voices as we ponder the mystery of death and dying. Death Cafes are not grief sessions or bereavement groups, but rather interesting and inviting gatherings held around the world to increase awareness of the importance of making the most of this life as we ponder what we know about death. Everyone is welcome at this open, relaxed, spontaneous discussion. Please join us.

This hybrid course alternates with in person and remote meetings.The course will offer a combination of class discussion of the work of well known short-story writers and "workshop" feedback sessions for the work of participants. Each participant will be expected to write one short story per week: fiction, nonfiction, or memoir and to read and be prepared to discuss an assigned short story. Participant's stories will be distributed electronically by email each week to be read ahead of time for critique in the in-person class the following week. Participants should be prepared to read up to 20 pages of work by fellow participants plus the short story assigned for that week. Required: Internet connection, Zoom account, and Microsoft Word, google docs, or alternate application in order to type and share stories. Please pre-register as a minimum of 4 people is required to run the course.   

Bill Burtis is a retired journalist, freelance writer, and practicing poet who taught creative writing for many years at The University of Iowa, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and the University of New Hampshire.

Do you want to improve your writing skills for work? Write a poem to your beloved or finish that family memoir? Or maybe you’ve considered writing a script. If so, come join us in this 6-week writer’s workshop where we will explore a variety of writing genres. This fall, our focus will be on STORIES—both real and imagined. In this class, we will analyze the elements of effective storytelling, including (but not limited to) plot, character, scene, point of view, voice, and tone. Participants will write and/or revise their stories of choice, and together we will examine successful writing strategies and tricks of the trade. And most of all, we will discover that writing can be fun! Pre-registration is required for access to online link.

Kristin holds a Masters in English (Literature), as well as an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine.  She is the 2019 recipient of the Maine Literary Award for Drama and Lit Fest’s 2019 Dramatic Writing Fellow for Emerging Writers. Her critical and creative work has appeared in The Explicator, Ekphrastic Review, The Atlantic, New Hampshire Public Radio, and more. Follow her at kristinjleonard.com

Join our talented local chef, Ron Armentino, in preparing another complete, delicious Italian dinner! First, everyone raved about his excellent lasagna. Now he will grace us with yet another special recipe as we all work together to prepare a feast! Please pre-register as a minimum of 5 people is required to run the course.

From cooking to cars and much more, Ron is an avid aficionado of many trades. He regularly cooks for community and family events. Anyone who eats his cuisine will be sure to be back for seconds!

Learn basic tree identification as we take a leisurely walk through the woods. Bring an open mind and open your eyes to the wonders of nature! This class will also contain very basic information about edible plants to forage and use. *Instructors do not recommend consuming plants unless you are absolutely positive you know what they are; we are by no means experts. This is an introductory class.* Bring appropriate walking shoes and dress for the weather. Please pre-register as we need a minimum of 4 people to run the course.

GROWING GREAT GARLIC

Do you love garlic in your cooking? Did you know you can grow it yourself?  Growing garlic in the north with our cold winters differs from growing it in the warmer south.  Get some tips on when and how to raise your own crop here in Maine.  It’s good for your taste buds and your health! And it’s time to plant here in Maine! Please pre-register as we need a minimum of 4 people to run this class.

About Brigit: An avid gardener, researcher, and teacher, Brigit loves teaching classes where everyone learns new things, and where she goes home having learned more herself, for her own gardens, and for teaching future classes.

Join us for dinner, stories, and fun family activities! In addition, each child will be able to take home a book each week! This free Parent and Child Together (PACT) activity meets at the Riverside United Methodist Church on Thursday evenings as designated. If you have questions regarding this FREE program or want to register, please call Renee at 625-3092 or email rpayeur@sad55.org. Bring the family and join us! Pre-registration is required due to space issues and to keep everyone updated on any changes.

No Class Nov. 23

Join local artist Sue Cannafarina for this two-hour class of monthly painting fun while learning techniques used by the impressionists and Bob Ross (Lol). Bring a beautiful image to life ranging from still lifes, landscapes, and object studies. No experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. These are great opportunities to spend time with friends or make new ones. Bring home a work of art each meeting! Classes run once a month through December. Pre-registration for each class is required as class size is limited to 12 people.