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

County government in Maine is our oldest form of governance. Counties were created even before towns, intended to deliver essential services that individual communities could not provide on their own.

Today, that framework is both rooted in history and unexpectedly forward-looking, as smaller towns face new pressures in education, fire and police protection, and the demands of a changing economy.

Date: March 19, 2026

1 PM - 2:30 PM

Location:  Franklin County Emergency Management Agency, 140 Main Street, Suite 1, Farmington, ME

Amy Bernard, MPA, is Franklin County's Administrator, and Fenwick Fowler is a County Commissioner representing Farmington.

In-Person

This is a quest to understand a dynamic river and its impacts on communities along its 73.3-mile corridor. Come and hear what experts say and what concerns residents.

In February 2025, 50 local and regional partners met to address worsening floods in the Sandy River Watershed. Following major 2023 floods and over 100 events in 230 years—including three recent FEMA disasters—farmers reported erosion and land damage. Professionals cited outdated flood maps, past river modifications, and climate change.

The group called for updated mapping, a geomorphic assessment, and coordinated, large-scale solutions beyond piecemeal fixes. How would this impact citizens, and what are their ideas?

Four forums took place across the Sandy River Watershed. These forums were centered on the community—designed not only to help residents understand the characteristics of the Sandy River, but more importantly, to listen to their stories, concerns, local knowledge, and history.

March 26, 2026

1:00 P.M.

Location: Franklin County's Emergency Operations Center, 1 County Way in Farmington.

Amanda Simoneau, Franklin County Emergency Management Director, will be joined by Sara Bickford, Somerset Emergency Management Agency Director, to describe what impact the flooding has had and mitigation suggestions moving forward.

Hybrid

This presentation by licensed forester Ted Wright will provide information on an innovative new program to ensure annual revenue for forest landowners through the generation of carbon credits from their growing trees.   

In short, getting paid to let trees grow. Ted is a consultant for Renoster, a carbon removal supplier. The company is collaborating with owners of Maine working forests to encourage longer tree growth cycles for more market value while earning annual revenue through committed carbon credits. Ted will also discuss how carbon credits are generated, supplied, and traded, and cover integrity issues in the current carbon markets. 

See Renoster's announcement here:  

https://www.renoster.co/resources/blog/launching-apollo-a-new-era-for-nature  

Date: March 31, 2026.  Snow Date: April 1, 2026 

Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 

Location: Education Center, room 107 

Ted Wright has dedicated over 25 years to advancing responsible forestry practices and sustainable management of forest resources in Maine. His deep commitment to working forests and rural economies allows him to connect Maine's woodland owners with carbon finance opportunities.

Ted is the owner of Ted Wright Forest Services https://tedwrightforestservices.com in Brunswick. 

In-Person 

Do you fantasize about living in Three Pines and having a meal with Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache or a walk around the green with Ruth and Rosa?

Do you want an opportunity to talk about Louise Penny’s latest two books, The Grey Wolf and The Black Wolf, as they weave a complicated tale in the province of Quebec? 

Join us to discuss the characters, settings, questions, dogs, and ducks of Louise Penny’s mysteries. 

Dates: April 8, 22, 2026

1:30 - 3:00 P.M.

Location: Education Center, 113

Deb Stahler and Cathy Wimett would like to vacation in Three Pines and have at least one meal a day in the Bistro.

Hybrid

License to Browse: Safety While You Scroll will focus on traversing the expansive landscape of the internet, smart devices, and the ever-widening reach of artificial intelligence. From security basics to protecting your private information, "License to Browse" will provide you with practical steps you can take to ensure confidence and safety while using your devices.

This presentation will be broken into two parts:

Part One will be an introduction to safety features and settings that are built into smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.

Part Two will expand on these settings and features and will delve deeper into how they can be used in real-world settings and digital environments.

The presentations will be a combination of lecture and group discussion. Participants are encouraged to come with questions and a willingness to engage in a communal conversation and education.

Date: April 9, 23, 2026

10:00 am - 12 pm

Location: Ed Ctr, room 107

Tyler Provencher is the Program Coordinator for the Greater Franklin Digital Literacy, a free, county-wide support program offering educational resources, technology guidance, and support to the broader Franklin County community. Greater Franklin Digital Literacy offers a combination of group presentations and individualized tutoring opportunities.