In-person

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

First Thursday of the month

October 2, 2025

November 6, 2025

December 4, 2025

January 1, 2026

February 5, 2026

11:30 am.

Location: TBD

Patricia Overall has been a member of GLI for several years.  She is a retired high school mathematics teacher who later worked in hotel management.

Other occupations included working for NACA, now NASA, and bartending. She has lived in 18 states and obviously enjoys eating out.

In-Person

Join us as you will step back in time and explore the old historic Mercer cemeteries for a talk and tour.

Whether you’re interested in local history, genealogy, or simply enjoy discovering hidden pieces of the past, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with Mercer’s heritage.

Meet and park at the Historical Society at 77 Main Street.   Carpooling is highly recommended.  A museum tour will be available afterwards if desired.

October 10th, 2025

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Mercer Cemetery

Meet at the Mercer Historical Society, 43 Old Rte 2 Rd, Mercer, ME

Barry is a passionate historian and genealogist with a strong dedication to preserving and interpreting the past. A veteran of both the Navy and the Marines, he brings a unique perspective shaped by service and discipline. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, is skilled in multiple foreign languages, and is actively engaged as a historical reenactor.

In-Person

This will be a studio visit and demonstration of gelli printing with stencils on paper and fabric, and image transfers onto paper. You will have an opportunity to try your hand at printing during your visit.

Date: October 16, 2025

10 am - 12 pm

Location: Two Imagine Studios, 173 Mosher Hill Road, Farmington, Maine, 04938

Meredith received her BFA from Cooper Union in NYC.  She has worked as a calligrapher and graphic designer, and has pursued a path as a painter, printmaker, and hand bookmaker. Although she is currently retired and a member of Gold Leaf, you cannot keep her out of the studio.

In-Person and Hybrid

Pancho Villa was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. Since he outlived the other leaders, his name is the one we know. The leaders were from varied backgrounds with various motives. Let me fill in some blanks about these men. You can decide for yourself whether they were heroes or hooligans.

October 21 and 28, 2025

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: The Landing, Olsen Learning Center, Lower Level

Diane Parker was a Spanish teacher for many years. She is a lover of Latino and Spanish history and culture. She spent formative years living on the Texas border with a bilingual mother. History was one of her favorite subjects throughout high school and college. She was lucky to have both worlds to share in her career.

In-Person

Each session will be a walk or snowshoe in various meadows, woodlands, or mountains in the vicinity of Farmington. The travel time to the trailhead will generally be between 30 and 45 minutes, and participants should plan to be on the trail for 1 to 2 hours. Efforts will be made to avoid difficult terrain, and a makeup date will be scheduled in the event of cancellation.

Approximately one week before each session, participants will receive an email detailing the travel plan, providing information about the destination, and offering suggestions on what to bring.

October 23 or 24, 2025, at 10:00 am, weather dependent, will be led by Barb Toner with forester Jon Dody. Jon will take us on a walk through the woods, sharing what he looks for from a forest management perspective, taking into account the landowners' objectives.

November 20, 2025, at 1:00 pm, led by Eileen Kreutz

December 18, 2025, at 1:00 pm, led by Eileen Kreutz

January 28, 2026, at 10:00 am, led by Barb Toner

Barb Toner and Eileen Kreutz have conducted many similar outings in past sessions.

In-Person

The course will be based on Eric Hooglund's memoir, still in progress, and will draw upon both his personal recollections and extensive historical research. The research includes interviews with community members and an in-depth examination of archival materials.

Maronite Christians are based in Lebanon and comprise about 65 percent of all immigrants from Lebanon in the period from the late 1890s to 1924. Waterville, Maine, boasted one of the largest Lebanese immigrant populations, at least 75% of whom were Maronite Christians

The first two sessions will explore the social, cultural, and historical aspects of this community, highlighting their migration experiences, integration into American society, and contributions to the local economy. 

The third session will feature a guided tour of the still-active St. Joseph's Maronite Church, a key institution in preserving the community’s religious and cultural heritage. This session's Location and time are TBD.

Additionally, participants can choose to enjoy a meal at the nearby Mezza Café, a Lebanese restaurant that offers a taste of the culture discussed in the course.

First session, October 27, 2025

Second session, October 31, 2025 

Third session, Joseph's Maronite Church talk and tour. The date and time to be determined.

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: Sessions 1 and 2, The Landing, Olsen Learning Ctr, Lower Level

Eric Hoogland has been a Gold Leaf member since 2014. He is a retired professor of Middle East politics, having taught the subject at Bowdoin College (1976-81) and Bates College (2006-2010), as well as at Oxford University in the UK and Shiraz University in Iran, among other institutions.

In-Person

This two-session course will provide a chance to tell your own stories and listen to stories of others, both entertaining and serious. We will provide topics, such as "when I was young and green" and "things I wish I hadn't said." Your suggestions for additional topics will be welcomed as we move forward.

October 29, 2025

November 12, 2025

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: The Landing

This class will be co-led by Carla McDonnell and Cathy Wimett. If you remember Laurel and Hardy, you know all you need to know about us. We like hearing stories from Gold LEAFers and are willing to do just about anything for a laugh. Please join us as we share our lifetime of misadventures with each other.

In-Person and Hybrid

The Templars were created as a military religious order in 1119 and were based in Jerusalem to protect Christian pilgrims. During the next two centuries, the Templars became the most powerful network in the world. They became the bankers of Europe, transferring funds between nations and rulers, and amassed great wealth as an organization.

The accumulated wealth attracted envy, and envy begat rumors of licentiousness and accusations of heresy. Phillip IV of France engineered the destruction of the Order of the Templars in 1307. Fables concerning the Templars will be discussed, and the facts of the Templars, a most remarkable order of knights, will be emphasized.

October 30, 2025 

November 6, 13, 20, 2025

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Ed Ctr, 107

Chuck earned a master's degree in history, focusing on Islamic ideology and Muslim history. He mentored with Dr. Stephen Harmon and completed a thesis discussing Hamas. This provided the background and interest in the Templars.