E-news November 24, 2015

Mark your Calendar

The four-week Winterim session begins January 21 and ends February 11. Course descriptions will be available by December 1.

The six-week spring semester begins March 24 and ends April 28.

Special Events Committee

Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience
Grand Theater – Ellsworth
February 14, 2016

Capitol / State Museum
Augusta
Early April 2016

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel
Penobscot Theater – Bangor
May 1, 2016 (tentative)

Acadia
Ranger guided tours
May – June 2016

Community Service Committee

The Community Service Committee is expanding the participation of Senior College for the March Read Across America program. This program, which coincides with the birthday of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) puts an extra focus on reading with community participation in our nation’s schools.

Last year, 12 SC members read to primary aged children at Captain Albert Stevens Elementary School in Belfast. Additionally, this year during early March SC members will read to children in some other area schools, including high poverty sites (some of these schools have over 80% of children receiving free lunch). These schools will include Monroe Elementary School (Tuesday, March 1, 8:30-11:00 am); Morse Elementary School in Brooks (TBA); East Belfast Elementary (Wed. March 9, 1-2 pm); Kermit Nickerson Elementary in Swanville (Tuesday, March 8, 1-2 pm); Searsport Elementary School (TBA); and Lincolnville School (Wednesday, March 2, 12:30pm).

At some of these locations, SC members will be asked to bring a book they would like to read to a small class of young students. In other instances, SC members will spend time reading one-on-one with children. Representatives from both the Belfast Free Library and the Carver Memorial Library (Searsport) will be involved.

Although about 16 SC members are already committed, more volunteers are needed for this exciting initiative for one or more sites. While prior teaching or librarian experience is not necessary, when you respond we would like to know if you have prior experience. We are attempting to ensure that each site has some experienced readers. If you are interested, email Wendy C. Kasten at wkasten@kent.edu, or Marjory Stickler at mbstick40@gmail.com, and please provide a phone number for contact.

We look forward to hearing from some more of you!

On another front, the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) food pantry and emergency assistance needs volunteers. They are located in Rockland, serving all of Knox County (but also families with children in Lincolnville School, which straddles the border). Open to clients MWF 9:30 to noon, volunteers are needed from 9 to 12:30. Tasks include: sorting donated food, including produce; shelving donations; taking clients shopping around the shelves and freezers; working the check-in or voucher desks; and/or packing weekend backpack food for school children on Thursday mornings. Contact them through info@aiofoodpantry.org and get a quick response.

Remember that one source of food for children who do not eat except on school days is Scallions Restaurant in Reny’s Plaza. Scallions owners sell used books in their café. They accept used books, or cash donations. They use the proceeds to prepare some of the food that goes home on weekends to Waldo County children.