Co-Lin is reached beyond its student populations to the wider community in two unique ways last month.
Through a "Connect at the Library" event, the college library brought seniors and retirees together for a half day to learn about its services and have some fun together at the same time. Aladdin Campus Dining, the college's food service, staged a dinner theater production at the Thames Center.
The get-together for seniors was one of two summer outreach events to community populations planned by Co-Lin Director of Libraries and Learning Resources Dr. Jacqueline Quinn. Quinn's plans also call for a Connect at the Library event for children, and possibly a community book club.
Seniors and retirees gathered gather from 9 a.m. until noon at the Co-Lin library for the program, which featured Stephanie Duguid, Co-Lin Dean of Academic Instruction as guest speaker, arts and crafts, a sharing time and refreshments.
With a meal, including an fried green tomatoes appetizer, steak dinner and dessert, the Detective Comedy Dinner Theater treated diners to a murder mystery which they competed to solve. Aladdin Executive Chef Christ McSweyn says plans call for bringing the theater company back for future performances.
More than 60 persons attended the initial performance at the Thames Center for “When Cletus Met Elizabeth. ”The dinner theater is part of an aggressive community outreach effort by McSweyn that also includes Sunday brunch buffets once a month, movie nights and other special events with meals.