Embedded Files
Nancy Albertson is a certified plant-based coach and is passionate about sharing the benefits of a plant based diet for anyone who is interested in improving their health.
Alice Bean Andrenyak is a Master Maine Guide and Maine native who lives at Mere Point in Brunswick. Owner of Alice’s Awesome Adventures and Maine e-Learning, she trains future Registered Maine Guides and outdoor enthusiasts in navigation, canoeing, SUP, sea kayaking, snowshoeing, nature studies, and overnighting skills, and is a former Guide’s Board Examiner. She has been visiting Malaga Island for over 30 years and leads regular sea kayak and hiking tours of Malaga Island. Alice is also a certified firearms instructor.
Anthony Antoloni is a member of the Midcoast Green Burial Working Group, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to establishing a green burial cemetery somewhere in Knox, Lincoln, or Waldo counties. He is also Director of Music at St. John's Episcopal
Church in Thomaston, Artistic Director of Down East Singers, and conductor of MozartMentors Orchestra.
BoomerTECH Adventures was begun in 2014 by three friends and colleagues, all former educators who have worked with adults and technology for more than 100 years (collectively)! We provide expert guidance and personalized resources for the 55+ age group to develop competence and confidence using Apple devices. Our team: Ed Brazee, tennis player, runner, “refocused” professor & editor, consultant, and author; Jill Spencer, traveler, enthusiastic gardener and photographer, middle school teacher, international consultant, and author; Chris Toy, chef, YouTube cooking sensation, long-distance biker, school principal, international consultant, and author.
Dr. Paula Apro specializes in chronic conditions, both physical and emotional. She uses frequency and vibrational medicine along with her experience in many different modalities to uncover and balance the root causes of chronic health issues. Dr. Paula holds a Doctorate and Ph.D. in Natural Medicine, she is double board-certified as an Alternative Medicine Practitioner, as well as a Quantum Health Coach. She is also a certified Eden Energy Medicine practitioner, a certified Emotion Code™ & Body Code™ practitioner, a certified Bio-Well practitioner, as well as an Advanced Pranic Healer.
Bill Babb is a retired teacher and home baker. He has searched for the perfect baguette for fifteen years taking several King Arthur Baking Workshops and attending Skowhegan Kneading Conferences along the way.
Trisha Badger has been a home cook for more than thirty years, and in summer does some private chef work on an island off the coast of Maine. By day she is Director of World Ocean Observatory, a Maine-based organization dedicated to communication and education about ocean and climate systems worldwide. She lives in Warren, Maine.
Gianna Bird, art teacher, silversmith, and jewelry maker, is most happy making things and problem solving. A recent arrival to the midcoast from Massachusetts where she helped found Five Crows gallery, Gianna manages and hosts the online community "Crafting an Artful Life" teaching watercolor, bookmaking, art journaling, and myriad crafts.
Ashton Benn has been in the golf business for seven years, the last two at Goose River. Currently a PGA apprentice studying to become a PGA Class A member he previously worked at the Samoset Resort and Wawenock Golf Club. In the winter months he travels to work in Florida at courses among which have included Frenchman’s Reserve, Bear Lakes, Trump National Jupiter, and Grand Harbor Golf Club. His goal is to introduce golf to as many people as he can.
Jesse Bifulco is an elder law attorney who is passionate about helping his clients protect their family and property. A graduate of Brooklyn Law School, he is admitted to practice law in Maine and New York. Jesse belongs to national organizations devoted to the advancement of estate planning and elder law, as well as the Elder Law and Trusts & Estates sections of the Maine State Bar Association. Jesse has lectured in estate planning workshops since 1998 and he undertakes continuous training to keep informed of the latest in this ever-changing and complex legal practice area. His classes are designed to teach people how estate planning techniques can be used to preserve their family wealth and prevent needless family conflict.
Francis Boscoe is a retired university professor living in Camden. He leads an Italian conversation group at the Rockport Library, and in the fall of 2023 attended an advanced Italian course in Torino, Italy.
Kate Brigham has always loved to create and process through movement. A 500-hour trained yoga teacher, choreographer, and movement artist, she believes in listening to our bodies for insight and the healing power of movement.
Mark S. Burrows, Ph.D., is one of the foremost experts on Rilke’s writings, engaging them in English and German, for experts and a general readership alike. He taught in a German university in Bochum where he was a member of the Bonn Rilke Project, which toured Germany giving performances of Rilke’s Book of Hours (in German) with jazz musicians and a visual artist. In 2013 he published Rilke’s original draft of what became The Book of Hours (Pt. I), which appeared as Prayers of a Young Poet, the only available version of that work in English. Since 2020 he’s lived in Camden where he writes and tries to keep up with an energetic Springer Spaniel named Keileigh. Visit him at: www.soul-in-sight.org
Sandy Clement has been teaching sewing classes for over 10 years. She has sewn since she was a child and has found it to be a valuable life-long skill. She has helped with costuming for local school and theater groups.
Charles “Kim” Coit, a veteran of Maine’s largest real estate agencies, founded the Center for Real Estate Studies to help people navigate the route to becoming a real estate agent, associate broker, or broker. He was later joined by top legal and real estate experts to offer pre-licensing and continuing education classes and courses for people pursuing careers in real estate.
John Coffin has held his USCG License since 1985 and has operated charter vessels in the Florida Keys and Maine. He is a Master Maine Guide and a certified Boating Instructor for U.S. Powerboating and the National Safe Boating Council.
Kevin L. Cope is the Adams Professor of English Literature at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. A lifelong student of the Enlightenment and its culture, he has published books and studies on topics ranging from early modern philosophy to joke books, televangelists, and images of George Washington. A frequent guest on cultural radio and television, he is known for his commentaries on American higher education as well as on such pop-culture topics as professional wrestling, parks, monuments, and colossi.
Dianne Daniels, MS, MA, is an exercise physiologist with over 20 years working in the fitness and wellness fields. She has taught on-line Zoom classes since 2020.
Peter Eckhart took over Don Sabins’ forty-plus-year-old sewing machine repair business in 2017 after twenty-six years as a Design Draftsman at SteelPro. Since then, he has serviced many vintage sewing machines, including ones that have not been used in many years. He also keeps the newer machines at Camden Hills Regional High School and Camden-Rockport Middle School in working order.
Julia Everist has been an avid baker for as long as she can remember, in professional and home settings. After years as a restaurant pastry chef in her hometown of Kansas City, she moved to Rockport in 2014 to work at Salt Water Farm. In 2015 she opened Sea Biscuit Bakery—a spot for seasonal, classic baked goods—and enjoyed the busy storefront until closing doors in 2017 to focus on her growing family. When she is not playing with her kids, she still bakes cake orders, and is thrilled to offer classes to share her love for pastry.
Barbara Davis is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and artist. Barbara holds a BFA from RISD and a MSW and MFA from Rutgers University. As a teenager Barbara experienced the healing power of the arts and since then has held a strong belief that participating in art-making processes is good for our physical, mental and spiritual health regardless of whether or not one is an artist. Barbara has taught all ages on and off throughout her career. When not at work or in her studio she enjoys cross country skiing, hiking and swimming.
Andrew Eckman has been involved in emergency services (police, fire, and EMS) for more than 45 years, and has been a medical instructor for more than 30 years.
Nicola Eden, former Physical Education teacher and career movement educator, loves using an individually appropriate approach to guide others to discover the gifts of yoga. Julia Everist has been an avid baker for as long as she can remember, in professional and home settings. After years as a restaurant pastry chef in her hometown of Kansas City, she moved to Rockport in 2014 to work at Salt Water Farm. In 2015 she opened
Randy Fein is an award-winning ceramic artist. She has found her way with clay for more than 40 years, producing original one-of-a-kind pottery, commissioned tile installations, and clay sculptures. She has also conducted over 100 artist-in-resident programs in public schools throughout Maine, and has taught at Unity College in Maine; Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont; and Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts..
Stephen Florimbi has exhibited work at various venues in Maine, Connecticut, and New York. His loose brushwork and impressionistic style have earned him an honorable mention at the 2024 Ogunquit Plein Air Festival and juried acceptance into the 2025 Cape Elizabeth Paint for Preservation event as well as into the 2025 Adirondack Plein Air Festival. His painting, Coming and Going, was chosen for this year's Maine Boat and Home Show poster. Stephen believes in making nurturing, fun opportunities for everyone to be creative.
Carole Freeman, B.S. RRT, Breathing Specialist Carole’s background has been equal portions of respiratory therapy, exercise physiology, and massage therapy. Her career as a respiratory therapist began at Loma Linda University Medical Center where she discovered that most adult patients were in the hospital because of poor lifestyle choices. That inspired her to attend graduate school at LLUMC, majoring in Health Sciences. She now focuses her work in a relatively new field of pulmonary medicine – recognizing and treating breathing disorders. She has personally benefitted from improved breathing patterns, “I have found that each day I was mindful of my breathing pattern, I gained more energy, and my breathing became easier. It felt like I was turning the clock back as I continued to gain strength and endurance.”
Paul Garcia is a translator who taught at secondary and university levels for many years. He has lived and worked in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain, and Argentina.
Brian Hebert has been playing pool in leagues and tournaments for over thirty years. He has taught kids and adults to play. Now an owner of Bears Den Billiards in Rockport, he enjoys sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport.
Diann Henderson has taught middle school math and science in the US as well as international schools in Cambodia, China, Russia and Ecuador. She is a graduate of the Maine Masters Naturalist Program and enjoys sharing her growing knowledge of what we see in the Maine forests.
Susan Hill is a visual artist with experience in collage, photography, and graphic art. She has apprenticed with Ansel Adams, Judy Chicago, and Betye Saar. She is also a member of a New England family of Makers, a line of knitters and seamstresses. Susan has professional experience as an embroiderer for museum exhibitions, theatre performances, and as a fine arts college instructor, and she has work in museums and private collections. However, her first love is teaching and collaborations, sharing and supporting individual creativity.
Sherwood Hilt first discovered wood carving at Camp Bomazen in 1990 where he learned how to do relief carvings, neckerchief slides, signs, and a variety of other items. In 2012 he started carving shorebirds and ducks. He has taught merit badge wood carving for the Boy Scouts for many years. Sherwood has a degree in building construction and worked at Lyman-Morse as a cabinet maker until retirement.
Angie Jones was a special ed educator for twenty-five years and is currently teaching at the Giving Tree School. She enjoys rehabbing furniture, decorative welding, stone carving, pottery, abstract painting, sewing, and especially working with children using found objects to make recycled art.
Concepta Jones is the founder of Concepta’s Studio, a cultural fusion hub in Maine that celebrates South African-Indian cuisine through spices, storytelling, and hands-on cooking experiences. A fourth-generation South African of Indian heritage, she brings a rich background in bold, authentic flavors and a passion for teaching others how to use spices with confidence. Through community events, markets, and workshops, Concepta helps home cooks explore new tastes and techniques using everyday ingredients. Her approachable style and love for food as connection make every class both flavorful and memorable.
Alex Kelly is an artist and professional sailor living in Rockport. They are always looking to improve their craft and love to help others do the same.
Sofija Kleinschmidt is a young visionary within the music world who aims to cultivate a safe and inspiring learning environment in which students feel safe and excited to take risks and learn! After retiring from a ten-year opera career, she gained experience across all genres including jazz, metal, folk, and pop, and released music as an independent artist. Her family came to Maine from Lithuania during the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Germaine Koomen is a strong believer in the power of handwork. When she is not working with fiber, she can be found teaching young children, hiking, kayaking, or cuddling her cat.
Neil Krane's passion for recreational table tennis began at his 1978 workplace where employees played before and after work, and during coffee breaks and lunch. He went on to introduce table tennis at every community opportunity, currently as volunteer leader of the Camden Hills Regional High School Table Tennis Club before expanding into adult ed. He has even invented a new table sport influenced by tennis, table tennis, pickleball, handball, and squash!
Sasha Laurita has been working with clay for 25 years, first as a potter and then as a sculptor. She holds a Master’s degree in Sculpture and Visual Arts from Fontbonne University where she completed one of the few programs in the country focusing on the art of the human figure.
Linda Leach and Sandy Clement have 30 plus years of painting and craft experience. They are the co-owner of the Maine Lights Collection. Visit their page at http://mainelightscollection.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/mainelightscollection/
Jacinda Martinez has been farming and gardening professionally for 16 years. She’s learned a thing or two along the way and loves teaching and sharing on this topic.
Kate Martino grew up in a card playing family, and is an avid bridge player, playing both social and competitive bridge.
Michelle McAnaney, former School Counseling Director at CHRHS, is the founder of The College Spy. She works with families nationwide to navigate the college admissions process with confidence. From choosing classes and building a thoughtful list of colleges to creating applications that truly tell an applicant’s story, Michelle genuinely gets to know students to support them in making one of life’s most important decisions. With over 25 years of experience and over 300 campuses visited, Michelle shares her insider knowledge with families through individual packages, group workshops, parent courses, free webinars and media features. Learn more at TheCollegeSpy.com
Mike McCune has a degree in Biology and has been carving and watching birds for over 20 years. He has taught duck carving for over 7 years.
Leslie Miller is a painter, printmaker, and papercut artist who taught in a suburban elementary school for 40 years, spending summers as a graphics instructor in a creative summer camp. In 1981, a small paperback book about Polish Wycinanki, opened a whole new world of paper cutting to her, and curiosity about this craft in other countries opened her eyes to many more possibilities. In 1994, an educators’ workshop with Paulus Berensohn taught her the value of journals and she began fabricating journals with her students. Students of all ages began creating journals in her workshops. Now retired from teaching, she still makes mandala type paper cuts for clients who want special presents, and her own handmade journals are considered prized gifts. See her work at www.originalpapercuts.com
joani mitchell has been playing and teaching piano in the Midcoast area for nearly 50 years. You may have heard her play for Our Lady of Good Hope Church, many of the musicals at Camden Hills and in local community theaters and The Penbay Singers, among others. She created and implemented the music program at The Riley School. She has a music degree in piano performance from the University of Maine, and has studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Anna Moorman has been with Allen Insurance & Financial for over 6 years. Anna has a background in healthcare and public health..
Nathan Oxenfeld is dedicated to helping people achieve clearer vision naturally through a combination of techniques from the Bates Method, Yoga, Breathwork, and more. He has guided thousands of students worldwide through workshops, retreats, and online programs, offering practical tools to reduce eye strain, enhance visual clarity and foster healthier vision habits. He is the founder of Integral Eyesight Improvement, the author of Give Up Your Glasses for Good: Holistic Eye Care for the 21st Century, the host of The Naked Eye podcast and the Better Eyesight podcast, and the producer of the documentary film Vision 2020: From Eyesight to Insight.
Dee Patel had so many requests for Indian food from her coworkers at Pen Bay Skin Care that she decided to open a three-day-a-week takeout in her family’s lodging The Ledges in Rockport in June 2019. She not only has been received with rave reviews but routinely sells out of everything on the menu.
Trevor H. Paul lived in the People's Republic of China from 2011-2013 in the city of Tianjin and has returned to various cities in China since then on many occasions. He lives in Lincolnville with his wife, Molly, and son, Caleb. He also has authored several fantasy novels and teaches English and Social Studies at Camden Hills Regional High School.
Laura Lee Perkins, BME, MS, CM has authored 18 books, published 150+ articles, and recorded 5 CDs and 3 audiobooks. Recipient of 14 grants and 5 artist residencies, Laura is a "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Miracles" author.
Benjamin Perry is the author of Cry, Baby: Why Our Tears Matter, a non-fiction book about crying that has been featured in outlets like TIME, NPR, and Vox. An award winning writer, their work has appeared in The Atlantic, Teen Vogue, The Washington Post, Slate, and more.
Jamien Reynolds is an avid home cook, caterer, and local food advocate. She has most recently run a large organic farm where she worked to rehab an historic, abandoned farm into something beautiful and productive, with a focus on restoring soil health and making the farm a center of community once again. Through her many farm-to-table events and various classes taught over the years, Jamien shares her love of food and family within an ever-growing circle, and she is very excited to teach this class helping people connect with each other and to the food they prepare to nourish their lives.
Gary Roberts is a Registered Maine Guide and resident of Appleton and has been a volunteer naturalist, trip leader, and speaker for over 30 years. He specializes in guiding from a natural history perspective and focuses particularly on the native flora and fauna of Maine. Gary has been a long-time volunteer for Maine Audubon and has volunteered with the Maine Plant Conservation Volunteers, Mountain Birdwatch, Maine Owl Survey Project, and Seanet.
Mary Sabins was born and raised in Maine, and lives in Union. Her interest in the hobby of needle felting began in 2016 when she took an Adult Education enrichment class at Camden High School to learn needle felting. She began teaching this felting craft to family and friends for fun and on a casual basis before retirement, and more regularly since then. Her student’s response and enthusiasm for learning the needle felting craft inspires her to pursue teaching further.
Chris Sady has been playing mah-jongg for decades and teaching the game locally for many years.
Wayne Sainio was born and raised in Washington, Maine. After getting his degree in civil engineering, Wayne worked for an architect, Bath Iron Works and the Coast Guard. He’s experienced in all areas of home maintenance including electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and HVAC. He currently spends his time helping his neighbors with a wide variety of home projects.
Devon Salisbury has been a Kitchen Coordinator for the Common Ground Fair for over 20 years during which time she has learned the art of making delicious food with the ingredients you have. She lives in Rockport, with her best friend, aka The Goodest Girl, Quinn.
Libby Schrum is a furniture designer and maker in Camden with nearly 20 years of woodworking experience. She often teaches at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and offers one-on-one instruction in her studio.
Geoff Scott has been involved in all forms of snow sports for most of his life and has enjoyed exploring midcoast trails for more than 20 years. He’s instructed downhill skiing as well as worked in the outdoor industry in various incarnations for almost all his life, including with Outward Bound.
Julie Sells, MA In International Studies, is a life-long learner pursuing various graduate programs and seeking spiritual knowledge through various traditions and numerous teachers for 25+ years. In addition to studying divination skills and healing techniques, she continues to pursue her passion of healing the relationships between humans and the natural world through teaching, meditation, intuitive readings, and energy healing sessions.
Mike Shunney is the Director of Inner Works Taijiquan and Qigong in Rockland – http://www.InnerWorksCenter.com. Mike is privileged to be recognized by the First family of Taijiquan in China, the Yang Family, as qualified to teach their system of Traditional Yang Family Taijiquan, which includes Qigong, Taijiquan, Taiji Jian (sword), Taiji Dao (broadsword), Taiji Qiang (spear/staff), and two-person play. He is the first person in Maine to hold that honor.
Cyrene Slegona's work with the Lincolnville Historical Society conserving their fiber handwork collection sparked her interest in redwork in particular. By combining nature, redwork, and drawing, she has created a personal and unique way of interpreting the world around her.
Holly Smith is a Maine native who graduated with a B.S. degree in Art Education from the University of Southern Maine. Retired from teaching high school art and photography for 31 years she now happily teaches adult ed. Holly is represented by the Portland Art Gallery, Bonnie Farmer Assemblage Art & Gallery, and the Lincolnville Art Gallery.
Jeff Space has been tying flies for 20 years and loves to share his knowledge with others. Jeff is a resident of Hope and loves to be on the water.
David Spahr is a naturalist, photographer, and forest farmer who has collected, photographed, and eaten wild mushrooms for 35 years. He is a member of the Maine Mycological Association and maintains a website devoted to the subject, mushroom-collecting.com. He is currently writing a book on foraging.
Jessica Steele has a deep passion for the wilderness and for teaching. She has been working in the field of Adventure and Environmental Education for more than 30 years. This leg of her journey is about connecting more deeply with herself, others, and the wilderness. Join her for a program of connection, learning, and growing.
Amanda Strong, co-founder of Midcoast Strong fitness studio in Rockland, has taught group fitness professionally for 16+ years. She loves encouraging others to move in ways that keep them feeling joyful and healthy. www.midcoaststrong.com. Allister Timms is the author of the speculative horror novel, The Killing Moon. He teaches literature at Husson University.
Sharon Turner owns Crystal Lake Farm and Nursery in Washington, ME. She specializes in open-pollinated vegetable and flower seedlings, native perennials, shrubs and trees, and cut flowers. She grows for Fedco Trees and Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District. She has been a certified Master Gardener Volunteer for more than 20 years.
Karen Vellekamp is a retired math teacher who has been knitting for forty years. She taught herself to knit after finishing college. Her specialty is making sweaters, and her winter wardrobe consists almost exclusively of her knitted garments and accessories. She is also quite skilled at fixing mistakes in knitting (which is handy since she makes a lot of them) and often helps others with their knitting “disasters”.
Deb Vendetti holds a BFA in Painting (UMass Dartmouth) with Graduate studies in Creative Photography (Cranbrook). She has been active in the local arts community since 1981; Education Coordinator at the Farnsworth Museum (1987-1998); local chair, Union of Maine Visual Artists (2003-2008, and 2022-present). She has led adult drawing workshops for Maine Crafts Association, Lincoln Street Center, Round Top, Orppersdorf Studio, and CHRHS.
Gabrielle Wicklow has been hooking rugs since 1986. She enjoys teaching beginners the art of rug hooking and sharing the fascinating history of this art form.
Mike Wilson’s passion has been helping 1000’s of adults and seniors learn computers in over 40 cities in 17 years. He has taught at colleges, workforce and development, community education centers, Parks and Recs, libraries, and many senior centers. His live remote sessions are great for dabblers, tinkerers, and those who have recently bought a computer for personal or business use.
Mary Woodbury has thirty years clinical experience as a hand therapist providing specialized therapeutic treatment of the hand and upper extremities, including shoulders and neck. She holds an advanced designation as a Certified Hand Therapist, CHT.
Page updated
Report abuse