York County Community College

York County Community College provides academic, career, and transfer programs while serving to advance cultural, economic, and workforce development in York County and the state of Maine.L.E.A.R.N., York County’s new “life enrichment college” for adults 50+, pays tribute to generations of American veterans at a free reception, open house and mini-concert on Thursday, May 28, at 5 pm at York County Community College. The event is open to all, and veterans especially are invited to attend and be honored. They are encouraged to wear their uniforms.After a brief invocation and patriotic songs performed by local favorites Classic Blend, LEARN will formally dedicate its upcoming Classic WWII Film Series to four local vets, Cliff Kelsey, Fred Milley, Al Hills and David Green. These members of the “Greatest Generation” will share vivid personal stories of their WWII experiences – in combat, as a POW, and on the home front.

The May 28 event also marks the launch of LEARN’s 2009 Summer Program. Full- and part-time residents age 50 and above can participate in no-credit, no-exam courses focused on fun and life enrichment topics, from fly fishing to memoir writing, from nature walks to theater.A book club/discussion of “The Shack,” recently the 4th best-selling book on Amazon, will be led by retired pastor Fr. Renald Lebarre. The book is the story of a man who meets God in person.Information will also be available about reduced-price, members-only tours to San Francisco and Napa Valley this September, and a midwinter escape to balmy Costa Rica next March.

LEARN’s WWII Classic Film Series debuts June 4. A dozen films starring legends like Clark Gable, Bette Davis and Claudette Colbert will be screened on 12 consecutive Thursdays at 5:30pm. The first is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, considered by many the finest film about World War II made during the war itself. The story of Jimmy Doolittle’s daring air raids on Tokyo in the wake of Pearl Harbor stars Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson.LEARN, which stands for Life Enrichment Adult Renaissance Network, is part of YCCC’s Continuing Education and Business Services Department. The friendly, informal learning environment is open to all southern Maine and Seacoast NH residents and summer visitors age 50 and above. Courses, which are held at York County Community College, focus on artistic, cultural and fun subjects, including the arts, local history, travel, food & wine, and spirituality.