The course will start with an overview of a nuclear armed world and a “third grade” introduction to the science of the atom and then quickly move to the Manhattan Project story, the story of how the United States first developed the atom bomb. How did the United States become the first nation to perfect this instrument of destruction, who were some of the people involved, where did it happen and how did others follow. What was everyone thinking back then?

Peter Reilly has presented a number of well-received classes at Senior College on a variety of topics. He holds a BS and MBA from Monmouth University

In December, Denzel Washington adds his name to the many who have played the title role in Shakespeare's play about hubris and greed resulting in "murders most foul". This version is written and directed by Joel Cohen and also stars Frances McDormand.

Nick Turner is the Executive Director of The Grand in Ellsworth and a passionate devotee to the works of Shakespeare. This is Nick's fifth workshop for Senior College.

The mid-coast region of Maine has an incredible amount of archeological studies and excavations, perhaps more than any other place in the United States. Belfast is rarely mentioned and has no official Native American historic research, although its river's name may be translated as "fishing for sturgeons by torchlight". I have spent 6 years researching the history and collecting artifacts above the walking bridge. I will share that research and present one version of past native American activity along with related artifacts.

Steve Hutchings grew up in the historic seaport town of Marblehead Mass where he had no choice but to develop a love of history. With a freshly minted degree in Marine Biology (master's in education later) moved to Mid Coast Maine in 1976 and is a 40-year retired High School educator having taught both Environmental Science and Mathematics at Belfast Area High School and Medomak Valley High. For the past seven years, he has delved into the study of Pre-historic Maine and in particular the activity in the Mid-Coast area. Through researching Archaeological literature and practical hands-on study of ground stone local artifacts, he has developed a good working knowledge of artifacts and the culture of the Stone Age that he hopes to share. He enjoys almost any activity involving the water or woods and collects objects of interest some of which he finds in the ground. Teaching developed into his calling and the collecting and study of Indian artifacts and their culture is his passion.

Learn about Searsport families in the nineteenth and early 20th century. Participants will have a chance to transcribe and do a live reading of journal entries and letters by Searsport residents to be recorded for exhibits, educational content, and programs. They will create a brief biography of the author of their piece.

Cipperly Good, the Richard Saltonstall Jr. Curator of Maritime History at the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine, oversees the object, archive and library collections. Ms. Good holds a Bachelor’s degree from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she double majored in History and American Studies. She spent her junior year “abroad” at the Williams College-Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program, which sparked her career in maritime history and maritime museums. She holds a Masters of Arts in Museum Studies, with a concentration in American History, from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Previous to working at Penobscot Marine Museum, Ms. Good taught maritime history for the Ocean Classroom-Proctor Academy semester and worked as a curator at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and Falmouth (Massachusetts) Historical Society.

Over four classes, Washington reporter Alicia Mundy details several stories that created national changes in philanthropy, medical research, and drug prices; that led to criminal cases; and prompted Congressional investigations -- and a couple that should have.

Alicia Mundy is investigative reporter and author, who has covered healthcare policy battles and national politics from Washington. She was with The Wall Street Journal, and has broken stories for The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, GQ, Regardie’s Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The Daily Beast, Washingtonian, Washington Monthly, and DCReport.org.  She is the author of “Dispensing With the Truth: The Victims, The Drug Companies, and the Dramatic Story Behind the Battle over Fen-Phen,” (St. Martin’s Press); and “Crystal Mesh” about the pelvic mesh medical disaster.  She has worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders on healthcare costs.  Mundy has a B.S. from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an M.A. in International Relations.

Walt Whitman's prose preface to the first edition of Leaves of Grass is seldom read and less frequently noted. This course aims to correct these shortcomings by revealing the lyric quality of Whitman's prose, exploring Whitman's poetic principles, and considering Whitman's concept of the poet.

John McClenahen, a published poet and photographer, moved to Swanville in October 2020 from Delaware. John has university degrees in English, government, history, and philosophy, and has taught at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and in the University of Delaware’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Lewes, DE.

Note: No class on Feb 10

Since its inception as a town and a city Belfast has been planned out. What are the “Rangeways”? How did Northport Avenue escape end to end commerce? How did the Route One By-Pass come to be? How have our zoning and building codes formed our city? Why are so many Belfast government services downtown? How was the Harbor Walk, the Armistice Bridge, and the Rail Trail made possible? Our first sewage treatment was when!? Why don't we have a big box store? What will Belfast look like in 10 or 20 years? Who was the "great architect" of Belfast over the last 20 years? The course will discuss past and current planning practices with featured speakers and begin a discussion on envisioning the future of Belfast and how planning will influence everything.

Michael Hurley runs mostly invisible national and international businesses in manufacturing, tool making, entertainment, vintage retail, importing, and all but the Colonial Theatre happens through the miracle and magic of phones, fax, email, and web.  Currently a Belfast City Council member, Michael is an avid reader and early dropout college student who thought, “I’ll never need business math!”

Ancient Roman history covers almost 1000 years. Everyone has heard of the Roman Empire. Most have heard of the Roman Republic. Some have heard that Romulus (from whom Rome got her name) was the first king of Rome. Ancient Roman history included a monarchy (753-509 BC, or 244 years), a republic (509 - 44BC, or 465 years; our own is roughly 235 years old) and an empire (31BC - 476 AD). This class will give a brief overview of each of these periods in sequence.

Rebecca Jessup studied Classics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and has taught Latin for over 25 years, in Colorado and Indiana, to students of all ages. After living in Colorado for over 30 years, with a two-year stopover in Indiana, she happily moved to Belfast in 2013. Since then she has taught Latin at Senior College and through Five Town CSD Adult & Community Education, at the Edna Drinkwater school's middle school, and to private students. She co-taught, with Juliet Baker, a Senior College class in Gilgamesh. As a poet, she was awarded a residency at the Poet’s House in New Harmony, IN, along with her partner, the writer Rev. Dr. Duncan Newcomer, and continues to be active in the poetry community here.