BELFAST — Belfast Senior College kicks off its fall semester of 14 classes with a special “kickoff” event on Thursday, Sept.14, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the Belfast Boat House. The event, celebrating “Lifelong Learning in Waldo County,” is open to all Senior College members and members of the Belfast community who are considering becoming members.

With food provided by Bell the Cat and special presentations by Waldo County Senator Chip Curry as well as long-time fall course instructors Kristin Fangoulis and Fred Bowers, the kickoff includes Senior College’s annual meeting, and “a basketful of news,” according to BSC president Nancy Perkins.

Special guest speaker Waldo County Senator Chip Curry will address the vital role of Senior College as Waldo County’s premier lifelong learning center. Drawing on his career as an educator, academic advisor and his leadership in many community organizations, he will share his perspective on the closing of the Hutchinson Center and its impact on those who seek continued learning opportunities throughout their lives.

“There have been so many changes over the past three years, and even more in the past month,” said Perkins, in a news release. “When we lost the Hutchinson Center as our base of operations, we made it easier for you to find us in six places all around Belfast. We now offer a full schedule of classes between Sept. 21 and Nov. 15. If you can’t get to us, you can choose two of those classes on Zoom. When we lost our office, we opened a new one in the Belfast Coworking building at the foot of Main Street. And now we have the chance to let all our members, and all of our future members, know what is going to happen going forward. The Board of Directors, members, faculty and students will be celebrating a bigger, better Belfast Senior College. Not bad for an organization made up entirely of volunteers.”

According to Board member Denise Pendleton, the fall semester that starts Sept. 21 has something for everyone.

“The Curriculum Committee has been working overtime to produce a very special array of fall classes,” said Pendleton. “One of the Sept. 14 kickoff event’s speaker, Kristin Frangoulis, teaches one of them, an interactive look at three of Tennessee Williams’s plays. There are also courses in drawing, photography, Charles Dickens, Norse mythology, poetry, nutrition, singing, history, current events and even the history of Belfast’s waterfront.”

Belfast Senior College is an independent all-volunteer non-profit organization, now celebrating 30 years of programming. For the affordable price of $25 for a one-year membership, it provides year-round courses and events to provide stimulation, knowledge, social interaction and fun for people age 50 and up. Members’ spouses and partners of any age also welcome to become members. Class fees are $40 just five- and six-session courses, $15 for three one-hour courses, and $20 for a special three-session course in paper cutting. For complete information on membership and course registration, go to belfastseniorcollege.org.