Hybrid 

This is a discussion group usually held on the first and third Fridays of each month, covering local, national, and world news. The discussion provides an opportunity to share your observations and opinions on the news and to learn from other participants.

Articles of interest are distributed among the group by email in the week before each meeting, and topics to discuss are selected by the group at the beginning of each meeting.

March 6, 20, 2026

April 3, 17, 2026

May 1, 15, 2026

June 5, 2026

10 am - 11:30 am

Paul Mullin is the facilitator for this discussion group.

In-person

Participants will meet once a month for lunch at various restaurants in the Farmington area. Reservations must be firm one week before the date. Participants will order from the standard menu and receive separate checks.

First Thursday of the month

February 5, 2026

March 5, 2026

April 2, 2026

May 7, 2026

June 4, 2026

11:30 am.

Location: TBD

Patricia Overall has been a long-time member of GLI.  She is a retired high school mathematics teacher who later worked in hotel management and other occupations, including NACA, now NASA, and as a bartender. She has lived in 18 states and obviously enjoys eating out.

In-Person

Shake off the winter blues! Each session, led by GLI members who are veterans of many outdoor adventures, will be a walk or snowshoe on trails, roads, or woodlands in the greater Farmington area. The travel time to the trailhead will generally be between 30 and 45 minutes.

Participants should plan to explore for 1 to 2 hours. Efforts will be made to avoid difficult terrain. Make-up dates are hopeful, but as Spring is such a tricky time for planning outdoor activities, some cancellations may occur.

February 27, 2026

March 25, 2026

April 21, 2026   

May 22, 2026

10 am

Location & Time: TBD

Barbara Toner, Sam Horine, Sarah Carlson, Billy Proctor, and Margaret Cox have been involved in Gold LEAF over the years. Each one respects nature and enjoys sharing what Maine has to offer with others.

In-Person

In this course, we will read and discuss three books for and about young people during World War II. These books include: Snow Treasure (Norway) by Marie McSwigan, Number the Stars (Denmark) by Lois Lowry, and Twenty and Ten (France) by Claire Huchet Bishop. We will focus on one book and its historical foundation during each session of this class.

Dates: May 5, 19, and June 2, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: Education Center, room 107

Eileen Kreutz and Cathy Wimett are co-presenting this class.

Eileen Kreutz has been interested in and a participant in resistance movements for her entire adult life.

Cathy Wimett taught classes in children's literature for many years.

In-Person

Back by popular demand, this is a talk and tour at the Farmington Solar Farm.  We will meet at the York entrance on Route 2, across from Mosher's Seafood.

Date: May 6, 2026

10 am - 11:30 am

Bradley Greenleaf is a senior solar technician with Nextera Energy.

In-Person     

Tour of Fredrikson Farm in China, Maine, with owners Ed and Dianna Fredrikson. Join us to visit the baby goats and to appreciate the intricacies of goat dairying, cheese-making, responsible animal husbandry, and sustainable farming practices.  

Gold LEAF is honored to be selected for Fredrikson's first farm tour.

May 13, 2026

11:00 am

Location: Fredrikson Farm, 60 Danforth Rd, China, ME 

Fredrikson Farm is on the web at www.Fredriksonfarm.com and on FB. 

Hybrid

Eleanor of Aquitaine and Eleanor Roosevelt: Intelligent, strong, courageous. Different times, different circumstances, but more in common than you might think

May 14, 21, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Education Center, room 103

Diane Parker is a history geek. Although her main interest is usually in the Spanish-speaking world, she often wanders into broader fields.

After reading about FDR, she disliked the man but admired his wife. Reading about her led Parker to remember a research paper on Eleanor of the 12th century.  Come see if you agree with Diane that the ladies have traits in common.

In-Person

We will explore the flora and vernal pool fauna in the Storer Farm Preserve.  We can't be sure what we will find, but there should be spring wildflowers such as Lady Slipper and Cucumber Root, as well as a variety of ferns, and hopefully some vernal pool creatures.

Date: May 26, 2026

Rain Date: June 3, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: Storer Farm Preserve, Davis Rd, Vienna, ME

Deb Stahler is a regular GLI member and nature presenter.  She graduated from the Maine Master Naturalist course in 2020.