Framed by the week’s trending news, this course relies on rigorous, yet respectful debate to enhance our understanding of diverse events. Discussions address politics, gender, religion and their effects on contemporary culture – issues that give life depth and meaning. We focus on developing critical reasoning skills by examining the pre-conceived biases that affect our personal objectivity.
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Essentrics is a dynamic workout that simultaneously lengthens and strengthens every muscle in the body, resulting in greater joint mobility and lean, long muscles. The workout draws on the flowing movements of tai chi which enhance health and balance, strengthening theories behind ballet which generate long, lean flexible muscles and the healing principles which produce a pain-free body.
Norte: This is a one-hour class, from 1:10 to 2:10pm
Members must wear white or white-soled shoes. A pre-participation medical screening form will be sent to enrolled members and must be returned to our office at least one week in advance of the start date. Note: Members with conditions that may result in health issues when engaging in low-level movement activity should not enroll in this course.
Four Thursdays, starting July 13, at 1:10 to 2:10 pm
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In a classroom setting with a piano keyboard, Dr. Joe reviews and regales us with the music of Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. He performs and discusses these, along with behind-the-scenes stories.
Session 1&2:Â Tony Bennett
Early Life, WW II and After, First Successes, A Growing Artistry, Years of Struggle, Turnaround, An Unexpected Audience, Into the 70’s and retirement, The present.
Session 3&4: Frank Sinatra
The Start, The Columbia Years, The Actor, The Capitol Years, The “Rat Pack,” The Reprise Years, The Mature Years, Assessment.Â
Have you ever wanted to create artwork from images, decorative papers and art materials? Let mixed media artist Ellen Gordon show you how to combine materials to create fascinating artwork. Drawing will be integrated with collage. No experience necessary – just a willingness to try! Demonstrations and individual attention will be given as each student works on completing their mixed media creations. Elements of design and composition theories will enhance each student way of thinking about art and creating art.
Each week will feature a short education lecture/demonstration on design principles and compositional theories as well as hands on individual art creation. Each week will end with a brief critique.
Supplies: archival glue stick, mat medium or other archival craft glue of choice, decorative collage papers of students choice (newspaper, magazines, colored paper, wrapping paper–anything can be used), tracing paper, scissors, pencil and heavy weight paper or canvas of your choice. Photographs of other artwork of inspiration can be used and transferring techniques will be explained as well.
One or two topics of both a practical and/or philosophical nature are discussed in each session. The instructor provides initial short general background on each topic and then opens a discussion period. The dialogue is expected to include both learned arguments and facts along with any pertinent information or anecdotes pertinent to the subjects. The rules of civil discussion are applied for all topics, whether controversial or not.
Week 1:
What makes some dreams and passions fade away while, for others, they never die, no matter the difficulties? How do we make that choice? Is it a choice we make, or is it all determined by outside influences and forces? What are the benefits, advantages and disadvantages for immigrants and the citizens of their host country?
Week 2, 3, 4:
Topics to be chosen by class from a list of facilitator’s proposed topics, allowing for input by class members.
It goes without saying that war and spying are connected. In World War II there are so many fascinating spy tales that it’s almost impossible to choose which to study. This course has settled on spies whose exploits are outrageously daring and some who were not spies at all but accomplished more and did better work than trained operatives. We study the reasons why each got involved, consider the outcomes of their endeavors and lastly, how effective the efforts were of each of these spies.
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Syllabus: Spy Tales from World War II, Richard Di Vecchio
Session One: In the first part of session one concerns the story of German General Rommel best source of British intelligence who happened to be a United States Army officer, West Point graduate and confident of General Douglas MacArthur. In the second part the discussion centers on the gripping tale of a Japanese baron’s contribution as one of the Allies greatest sources of valuable information.
 Session Two: It is hard to find a more riveting account of a spy who never knew was a spy but who accomplished so much more than most. The unrelated story of a one-legged super-spy who parachuted into German occupied territory; and that she was a woman.
Session Three: The United States depends on counter-spies to get information, but to get what is needed requires putting people in grave danger. These are narratives of two very daring spies who gave the U.S. invaluable material.
Session Four: When we think of spies, we think of men or women who operate in enemy countries and who are subject to danger, even death. Some however never step foot in an enemy camp. These are the yarns of two such spies who nevertheless carried out some incredible achievements.
This course traces the Russian Revolution with a journey that begins with an explanation of Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto, and culminates with Stalin’s rise to power. The collapse of the Romanovs is showcased followed by the rise of the Bolsheviks. Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin and others are profiled. Central to this four-week sojourn into history are the irrevocable changes which swept across Europe following the French Revolution; focusing of course, on the collapse of Czarist Russia and the advent of Bolshevik Russia, hence, the Soviet Union.
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Syllabus:  The Russian Revolution, Mark  Albertson
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Week 1: The Manifesto
In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels produced a work that would eventually have an explosive political impact, The Communist Manifesto. This session will analyze this book, the doctrine and the practitioners who bring Marx’s and Engels’ Manifesto to life, Lenin, Trotsky, Gorky . . .
 Week 2: Revolution in Russia: January 1905-December 1917.
The 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War; Father Capon and the Winter Palace, January 1905; Czar rebounds; Lenin, The Bolsheviks; Trotsky, World War I; 1916 Summer offensive on Eastern Front and disaster; Revolution, February 1917; Provisional Government; disastrous 1917 summer offensive; the Bolsheviks seize power, November 1917.
 Week 3: Civil War in Russia, December 1917-December 1922.
Felix Dzerzhinsky and the Cheka; the Red Army; White Russians; Russo-Polish War, 1919-1921; foreign intervention; War Communism; Treaty of Rapallo, April 1922.
Week 4: Consolidation of Power/Rise of Stalin
NEP; the Party; Peasantry; Proletariat; surreptitious Russo-German cooperation; Lenin dies, 1924; tug-of-war for power, Leon Trotsky; rise of Stalin.
