Anne Dearstyne Ketchen
Suzanne R. Roy G recently published The Enclave, a novel that tells the story of a French Canadian girl who attempts to keep her dreams alive as she grows into womanhood in the “Little Canada” enclave that her culture created in Lewiston to protect itself from the American melting pot. Her journey toward self-discovery and self-determination is one that women of all cultures are still struggling to complete. Suzanne taught English at the University of Maine from 1972 through 1974. She wrote the MPBN children’s television series “La Bonne Aventure” in 1974-1976. She has also written several plays, including Tradition — which was showcased in New York City in 1996 — and Caretakers, which won Best Play of the Year in the 2005 Ararat One-Act Play Festival in Australia. Suzanne lives in Lewiston and is currently working on the sequel to her novel.
Timothy A. Churchill G, who has led Franklin Community Health Network for the past three years and Western Maine Health in Norway for more than two decades, announced his plans to retire effective January 1, 2020. His career in health care leadership spans four decades.
In May 2019, Patricia Emens Clark ’79G retired from teaching at Unity College after 37 years. She was a professor teaching communication, drama, and conservation law enforcement, as well as working with the drama club and serving as the coach for the Woodsmen team.
In March 2019, Darylen McQuirk Cote of Caribou was inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame, an organization that is dedicated to women whose achievements have had a statewide impact, significantly improved the lives of women in Maine, and have enduring value for women. Darylen is a “tireless champion for women’s health, equality, and education. For 25 years she has been an advocate for reproductive health, family planning, civil rights for LGBTQ students, HIV/AIDS prevention, sex education in school, economic equality, and educational opportunities.” Congratulations, Darylen!
My husband and I had a fulfilling experience last fall when we participated in the community chorus of a production called Nature: A Walking Play at the Old Manse in Concord, MA. It was written, directed, and acted by TigerLion Arts of Minneapolis, MN. The play is the outdoor telling of Emerson, Thoreau, and their mutual love of the natural world. Instead of sitting in one seat and watching a stage, the audience moves to a new set for each scene. The play is full of music, physical comedy, and the words of Emerson and Thoreau. This short video was broadcast in September 2017, the last time Nature was performed in Concord, MA: youtube.com/watch?v=G3RbTzm5v3A. For another look at the production, watch
tpt.org/nature-walking-with-emerson-and-thoreau/.
If you look closely, you may see my husband and me!