Spring 2025 Classes
How Literary Artists transform the Social/Political problems of their time into art
Ken Gibbs
Tuesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 24, 9:30-11:30 am
Using excerpts provided in class, discussion will consider historical and contemporary examples of how literary artists transform the social and political problems of their time into art. The selection will be quite eclectic, and class members are encouraged to bring poems and sections of novels that they find relevant.
Ken Gibbs, a retired professor of English Literature at Worcester State University, has had the pleasure of conducting many courses for the Bridgton Senior College.
iPhone Tips and Tricks
Terry Landers
Tuesday, April 29th, 9:30-11:30am
**This class is exclusively for iPhone users! Please ensure you bring your iPhone to class.**
Have you ever wondered why certain tasks seem more challenging when using your phone? The truth is, there are likely easier ways to accomplish them! This class is designed for iPhone users at the novice or intermediate level. In the first hour, we’ll delve into tips and tricks to enhance your iPhone experience. Then, in the second hour, I’ll be dedicated to answering your questions and concerns about your iPhone.
Terry Landers, a seasoned computer professional, has been in the IT industry since 1973. Her extensive experience spans various roles, including employment at Verizon, AT&T, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she owned a franchise that provided training and troubleshooting services for technical PC issues faced by home users and small businesses. After years of dedicated service, Terry has happily retired.
Vernal Pools and Macroinverebrates
Leigh Macmillen Hares and Dawn Wood
Friday, April, 25, May 2, 9, and 16th, 9:30 - 11:30 am
April 25: The Hidden Life of Vernal Pools
Discover the wonders of vernal pools—seasonal wetlands vital to forest ecosystems. Learn how wood frogs, salamanders, and fairy shrimp rely on them for breeding and why protecting these fragile habitats matters. Join us indoors at St. Peter's Episcopal Church for this engaging workshop.
May 2: A Day at the Vernal Pool
Meet at Loon Echo Land Trust's Raymond Community Forest, Conesca Road, Raymond. Walk ¼ mile to the vernal pool, where we'll provide tools to explore its temporary residents and their unique ecosystem.
May 9: Meet the Macros.
Ever wonder who lives in local streams? Join us to discover the tiny creatures that call them home! Dive into the world of macroinvertebrates—those fascinating “big bugs” without backbones—and learn how macros tell us about the health of the environment. This hands-on workshop will take place indoors at St. Peter's Epsicopal Church.
May 16: Macroinvertebrates Up Close
Explore the role of macroinvertebrates in stream health and the ecosystem. Join us for hands-on dipping and rock turning to assess water quality at Douglass Brook, Tiger Hill Community Forest, Sebago.
Maine Master Naturalists Leigh Macmillen Hayes and Dawn Wood of Bridgton will lead these experiential classes. Both have a sense of wonder about the natural world and spend hours exploring only a few feet from a trailhead
The Eastern Coyote: Exploring Myths and Misunderstandings
Tom Durkin
Thursday, May 1 9:30-11:30
Are there wolves in Maine? Do coydogs exist in Maine? Why are coyotes in New England larger than coyotes out West? We'll delve into the enigmatic world of one of North America's most fascinating creatures - the eastern coyote. We will try to unravel the misconceptions surrounding the eastern coyote, examining their behavior, ecology, and interactions with humans. We aim to foster a deeper understanding of these adaptable predators. We'll separate fact from fiction and gain a newfound appreciation for the coyote's role in the natural world.
Tom Durkin has worked in environmental education for 35 years with diverse groups, from first graders to older adults. He has run the Nature Explorers program at Camp Pinecliffe in Harrison, and has taught nature studies at Sharpe Reservation. He is a New York State Master Naturalist.
Container and Raised Bed Gardens
Nancy Donovan
Thursday, May 8, 9:30-11:30 am
In 2024, nearly 1,400 illnesses were linked to 300 food recalls. This, along with my desire to avoid pesticides, led me to grow more of my own food. I cultivate tomatoes, peas, beets, green beans, carrots, lettuce, herbs, and strawberries, picking them fresh for meals and freezing extras for winter. I use raised beds for everything. This class will teach you how to grow your own food in small spaces, on any budget. I’ll cover bed options, soil and soilless mixes, watering, pests, diseases, and plant troubleshooting.
Nancy Donovan retired in 2020 and soon completed the Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Her projects include writing a bi-weekly article for the Bridgton News, creating pollinator gardens, giving presentations at Bridgton Senior College, and serving on the Pollinator Certification Committee for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. She has been landscaping with perennials and expanding her vegetable garden every year.
Global Economic, Market, & Geopolitical Outlook
John Doughty
Tuesday, May 13, 9:30-11:30 am
While inflationary pressures have subsided and an easing cycle has ensued, the labor market has weakened. Import tariffs and reduced immigration will likely be headwinds to U.S. economic growth in 2025, while tax cuts and deregulation will likely boost spending with a lagged effect. We see these policy changes as having roughly offsetting effects on GDP over
the next few years. Importantly, real wage growth should continue to outpace headline inflation, supporting solid personal consumption trends – driving +2.4% growth in 2025 – a modest downshift from 2024. Meanwhile, policy uncertainty and geopolitics remain two big investment themes.
John Doughty is Principal and Chief Investment Officer for RM Davis in Portland, responsible for research and investment strategy.
Rufus Porter Museum
Daniel Dinsmore
Thursday, May 15, 9:30-11:30 am
This class will be held on-site at the Rufus Porter Museum
Come hear a presentation on the life of Rufus Porter and the work that has gone into creating the new and improved facility now located on Main Street in Bridgton. Rufus Porter (1792–1884) was an American painter, inventor and founding publisher of Scientific American, the oldest continuously published magazine in America. Following the presentation, we will have a guided tour of the Museum that showcases some of Rufus Porter's work.
Daniel Dinsmore is channeling his enthusiasm and passion for community-driven work into promoting the Rufus Porter Museum in Bridgton. With its rich history and connection to the area's artistic and cultural heritage, the museum is an invaluable resource for both locals and visitors. His unique blend of media expertise and non-profit experience positions him perfectly to amplify the museum’s mission.
