“Creating with Collage” instructor Deborah Stevenson calls working with cut paper and glue “incredibly fun!” Coastal Senior College is delighted that this well-known Belfast Senior College teacher has offered to teach a course for us. For those unsure of what is meant by the term collage, Stevenson offers this explanation from a workshop she taught in Belfast: “With its roots in the works of Picasso and his peers, collage uses images from printed material to glue together into an original piece of art. The joy of this medium is that everyone can do it and have success. Cutting and pasting together is surprising, relaxing, and a very social activity, and it is always fun!”

This talented artist is known for putting her students at ease and encouraging them to explore their own abilities and strengths. Students in this six-week course will learn the basics of composition, texture, abstraction, and color vs black and white. In addition to creating their own collages, class members will begin a piece and then pass it on to someone else to finish. If you’ve been looking for a hands-on creative experience in a non-judgmental atmosphere with other like-minded folks, then reserve time on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and head to the Picker Room at the Camden Library. The first class begins on April 9.

“We Know Where You Live: Security and Privacy in the Age of Surveillance” veteran instructor Paul Somoza states that “one of the greatest challenges our democracy faces is reconciling our seemingly incompatible values of freedom and privacy.” One of his teaching goals for this six-week course is “to better inform ourselves about the history, issues, and the law of surveillance to the extent one wishes to influence the debate and be an informed citizen.” Sign up for this class to learn about the scope and methods of surveillance and balancing privacy rights with the need for security. Exchange ideas and gain insights in this thought-provoking course which begins on April 9 and meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Lincoln Home Media Room in Newcastle. Dedicated to lifelong learning and sharing that joy with others, Somoza encourages his students to consider contemporary topics that impact our daily lives.

Paul Somoza has a law degree from Fordham and over 40 years experience in different aspects of hospital administration, most recently as director of Education and Organization Development at Maine General Medical Center. He has taught many popular courses for Coastal Senior College and has been CSC treasurer, chair of the curriculum committee, and a board member. He currently teaches and serves on the curriculum committee and resides in Newcastle.

“The Moon Landings - What was the Point” instructor Derek Webber is an author and former satellite engineer, who is passionate about human space flight and space tourism. He states,”This course is as much about the people as it is about the missions.” Interested in the Apollo missions? Webber will enhance discussions with period news sources, audios and other memorabilia, and he will share insights gained from his interactions with 20 of the 24 Moon travelers.

Born in the U.K., Webber moved to the U.S. in 1993, and he currently resides in Damariscotta. Join Webber and others for whom the moon landings and space exploration hold special interest for six Monday classes from 10 a.m. to noon beginning on April 8 in the Undercroft of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Newcastle.

To register for one or more courses, which cost $35 each, call our administrative office at UM Rockland Center at 207-596-6906, or download a registration form from our website at http://coastalseniorcollege.org or pick up a catalog at local libraries and businesses, fill out the enclosed registration form and mail it to Coastal Senior College ℅ UMA Rockland Center, 91 Camden St., Suite 402, Rockland, ME 04841. Membership for school year is $25.