LEWISTON – “La Rencontre” will meet at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the Franco-American Heritage Center at St. Mary’s basement level. Those attending are asked to park in the Continental Mill parking lot and enter through the rear sidewalk door.

The program will feature Michael Courchesne as speaker, presenting three short video tapes on the Franco-American life filmed and edited by eighth-grade Lewiston Middle School students.

The films are titled “Le Petit Canada Little Canada,” “St. Mary’s Le Passe au Futur” and “Bates Mill – Un Moulin a Lewiston.” Courchesne will also speak about the oral histories project he has been working on with his students.

The center has been presented with 80 stories in written form and three videotapes, which have been accumulated from senior residents of the Lewiston-Auburn area. The seniors consisted of grandparents, family friends and neighbors, then contributed to the archives of the Franco-American Heritage Center.

Courchesne is a 20-year veteran teaching middle school students and has helped them discover the heritage in their families.

The meal will be prepared by Edmond Gay, center board member and Graziano’s Restaurant employee. The menu will be a roast pork dinner with rice pilaf, vegetable, dessert and beverage.

The cost is $6.50 a person and the purpose is to speak only French for an hour and a half. Everyone is welcome, and if interested in attending, call Claudette at 786-6936 for reservations or the center at 783-1585.

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