The Fermi Paradox addresses the common belief that our galaxy is teaming with intelligent alien life while simultaneously acknowledging the absence of any evidence that they exist. Where are all the aliens? Local amateur astronomer Jim DellaPenna, a resident of Hope, revisits one of the controversial solutions to the Fermi Paradox - not always welcomed to discuss - that there is no paradox, that we may essentially be alone in our galaxy. Attendees should understand this is not in any way to be regarded as a religious argument. This is a scientific presentation. It will address the odds of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy that we might be able to detect. Approximately half of the talk will concentrate on what requirements other planets must meet before they are even capable of supporting life as we know it. There will also be ample time devoted to a question and answer period following the presentation as the instructor wants to allow sufficient time for all to speak who wish to.

How much are you throwing away every day? Could you divert some of that waste and help your community save money + the environment at the same time? Join Katrina Venhuizen, ecomaine environmental educator, to learn more about how you could be reducing, reusing and recycling, and how to reduce your household waste and carbon footprint.

Malaga Island is a 41-acre island at the mouth of the New Meadows River in Casco Bay, ME. It was the site of an interracial community from the Civil War until 1911, when the residents were forcibly evicted from the island. Travel back in history and learn about who used the island before the colony, about the colony and its history, and now. Finish by taking a virtual tour of the island today with Master Maine Guide, Alice Bean Andrenyak, who specializes in its tumultuous history. A question and answer time is planned at the end of the 90 minute presentation.This class is offered through a combination of video conferencing and pre-recorded video. Students must have an audio and video enabled computer, tablet or smartphone to participate. You will receive information about accessing the class prior to its start date.

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The Basics of Pistol Handling with Alice Bean Andrenyak for women only will cover safety at home and the range, principal parts and types of actions, how to handle a pistol in a safe manner, fundamentals of pistol shooting, pistol shooting positions, common malfunctions and cleaning, selecting a pistol, and qualifying on a range. The course meets the state of Maine minimum for a Concealed Carry Permit if you pass the 50 question written exam, and qualify by putting 5 rounds in 4 target circles (20 rounds total) at 10 feet. Students will receive the Basics of Pistol Shooting textbook. You do not need to own a pistol for this class, but if you do, you are encouraged to bring it to class with no ammunition. Range time will be scheduled separately from the classroom sessions. If you wish to shoot at the range to qualify and do not own a pistol, one will be provided with 50 rounds of ammunition for $25. If bringing your own pistol to the range, bring 50 rounds of ammunition. Optional Two hour range instruction costs remain: $50/person + optional $25 handgun rental if needed. No discounts. Optional range time for a separate fee paid directly to Alice will be on Friday, May 5, and Monday, May 8. The range days will be held at the Lincoln County Rifle Club in Damariscotta.

Bridge is played by over 25 million Americans of all ages and is one of the world’s most popular card games. It is fun, a great way to meet new people and stimulates your brain….. a game for your lifetime! This class covers bridge basics for those who have never played or if you haven't played for a while and are looking to renew your skills. The textbook required for this class is “Basic Bridge I” by Audrey Grant and can be purchased on Amazon (new/used).

From your backyard to an industrial composting facility, we will go over all the ways available to make sure your food scraps are contributing to local soil production instead of sitting in a landfill! Join Katrina Venhuizen, ecomaine environmental educator, to learn more about what is in your trash can and how to reduce your household waste.

Personal growth requires commitment to a simple daily practice. Simple refers to just 3 minutes each day. In our often hectic world of constant demands, are you wondering how you could ever add another commitment to your daily routine? Read and then decide. If a daily practice of just 3 minutes a day allowed the other 1437 minutes of your day to flow more easily, would you be willing to try the daily practice for 30 days? Instructor’s optional workbook will be available for $10.

Grief is hard work which embodies tremendous potential for healing and transformation. This work is deep, often painful and the process can shatter our illusion of normalcy as we yearn for a new center of emotional gravity. Somehow, we find a way to integrate loss into the fabric of our lives as that intangible part of us evolves into even deeper awareness and connection. This 3-week class will offer ways to move through this personal empowerment journey - no matter when your grief experience happened. The $10 workbook for the class can be purchased from the instructor the first night.