UNITY — Unity Public Library, serving western Waldo County towns of Unity, Burnham, Troy, Knox, Freedom and Thorndike, is partnering with Mammie’s Country Kitchen on Depot Street in Unity, to present Lunchtime Learning, a speaker series on the third Friday of each month at noon. Attendees can order a meal or a snack and enjoy an hour-long presentation on a topic of local and general interest.

“Mammie’s is a warm and welcoming space with good food, and the speakers and discussion will make us all smarter,” says Jean Bourg, director of Unity Public Library, in a news release.

The series begins on January 17 with Gardiner Bryant, president/creative and technical officer and founder of Heavy Element, new media production studio specializing in audio/video production and web design, based in Midcoast Maine.

The first four Lunchtime Learning speakers are:

January 17: Gardiner Bryant presents “But I Have Nothing To Hide.” How to keep your identity and your data safe online: password managers, secure applications, safe searching and messaging, ad blocking, social media, and more.

February 21: Craig Freshly, author and facilitator, presents on how to have harmonious and productive conversations with people you disagree with.

March 21: Don Schultz, local author and historian, reads from and discusses his book The One-Armed Devil, a novel about Union General Phil Kearney in the Civil War.

April 18: Vanessa Burrill, with Revision Energy, explains Solar 101 as well as current options for community solar farms in Maine.

Unity Public Library, a member of the Maine State Library system, opened on January 22, 2022 with a mission to provide a dynamic, circulating collection of books and media, regular community programs focused on literacy, arts, and culture, as well as resources for remote workers, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and job seekers in Western Waldo County. Library cards are free to everyone. More information at https://unitypubliclibrary.org