Friday   

Well-behaved women rarely make history—and the women in this course definitely did not behave! From pirate queen Grace O'Malley to poet Anne Sexton, and from pop icon Madonna to modern women under the public microscope like Karen Read, we'll explore how women who challenge expectations are labeled, judged, and sometimes punished.

Through short readings, media, storytelling, and lively discussion, we’ll connect past and present and ask: what has changed, and what hasn’t? Come ready to think, share, and maybe stir up a little trouble. An optional visit to Salem or a related local site may be suggested for those interested.

Have you always wanted to play the guitar to accompany yourself singing or is it just something you have always wanted to try? Then this introduction to Guitar course is for you! We will cover all of the basic fundamentals needed to learn to play the guitar, whether it is on your own, or with formal lessons. Discussions will include how to care for your instrument, how to tune, and how to play with proper posture and correct technique. Both chords and melody will be covered, and we will play familiar songs as a means for learning. Also, regardless of each individuals pace all songs can be arranged for all abilities. This course will focus on learning how to play using chord diagrams and tablature background. Traditional music notation will be introduced and explained but will not be the focus. Students will need: a guitar in playable condition, guitar picks, a clip-on tuner, or app, a guitar strap is optional but recommended. Folders, chord charts, reference materials and handouts of song sheets for the lessons will be provided by the instructor. Students of all backgrounds are welcome and those that have already taken the class come as a review, and to continue working on the songs we did, but with more advanced skills.

This two-part series explains how, with Churchill’s support, the British efforts at destroying the Nazi tyranny of World War Two, resulted in the victory of the Allies in 1945. In particular, we examine the formation of a very secret organization, the Special Operations Executive, SOE, and some examples of specific operations that took place in occupied Europe. This involved intelligence gathering and sabotage that gave support to the resistance in those occupied countries.

Part 1 explains the history of the intelligence services in Britain and the formation of the Special Operations Executive and Part 2 covers several of the various operations that took place during SOE’s existence.

David Barrett lived in London during the London Blitz and was 6 years old when World War Two finished.

Transforming the Mediterranean Sea into an open, international waterway during the Barbary Wars (1801-1816) was driven by the United States’ refusal to pay state-sanctioned tributes for safe passage.  By employing military force, the U.S. forced North African corsairs to recognize the universal “freedom of the seas” for merchant shipping

Barbary pirates from the states of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli continually attacked merchant vessels in the Mediterranean, seizing cargo, and demanding massive annual tribute payments.

Most major European powers—including Great Britain, France, Spain, and others—paid regular tributes to the Barbary States. President Thomas Jefferson decided to stop making tribute payments and dispatched the newly established U.S. Navy to the Mediterranean. This culminated in the First Barbary War (1801–1805) to force Tripoli and other regimes to end their attacks. Piracy resumed during the War of 1812, prompting the Second Barbary War (1815) under President James Madison.

Join me for a six-week exploration of the two wars that established the Mediterranean Sea as an open international waterway. There will be slides, handouts and the second half of the class will be devoted to questions and discussions with reference to events in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although this course will build on a class previously offered last year, new participants can join and participate fully.   It is suitable for either those who use smart phones or dedicated cameras. The class won't focus on how to use a particular “camera” but rather, how to compose and get a better image out of whatever device you have.  We will review basic photographic fundamentals and qualities that create a “good” image.  Students will be asked to submit photos for critiquing and constructive criticism by class members. Although our goal will be to take a so-called “perfect” photo in-camera, we will see how to improve images by post-processing, using software: the so-called “digital darkroom.” I use Photoshop Elements, but the principles may be transferred to other software.  It’s not essential to have any software.  Questions and comments are encouraged with plenty of back-and-forth interaction.  Weather permitting I’d like to schedule a “meet and greet” field trip at a time convenient for as many people as possible.  I’d appreciate suggestions from you as to possible destinations.  

This course will examine three William Faulkner novels, As I Lay Dying, A Light in August, and The Sound and the Fury. Classes will be driven primarily by a close reading of each text and subsequent in-class discussions. The course will be on Zoom, and it will be recorded.

Discover China’s rich everyday wisdom—from the soothing warmth of ginger tea to the quiet grace of calligraphy. In six relaxed sessions designed for senior learners, you’ll uncover how food harmonizes your body, why families honor ancestors, how ancient philosophies shape daily life, and why gentle Ba Duan Jin movements (soft, slow Qigong) can calm both body and mind. You’ll try simple brushstrokes, learn easy seated exercises, share cherished memories, and witness how tradition thrives in modern China. No tests, no grades—just vivid stories, compelling images, friendly conversation, and small hands-on discoveries. Join us to connect with new friends, practice gentle, mindful movements, and explore timeless ideas that may even transform how you see your life’s unfolding seasons.

I plan to begin with man’s first attempts to fly like a bird then move on to the early days of flight and eventually go higher and higher into deep space.  Along the way, I want to examine the physical principles that govern how we stay aloft.  What’s it like to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom and live in a so-called “weightless” environment?  We’ll examine the physics behind satellites and space telescopes and what we learn from them.   In particular, I want to discuss the Space Shuttle and Teacher in Space programs and offer personal reflections from my own experiences while being a NASA Space Ambassador and Regional Representative for the National Air and Space Museum.   

This course will focus on six critical national issues that will be prominent during Fall, 2026, especially during the mid-term election and the results of the election on the composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Those six issues are the national debt burden, employment and unemployment, energy use and energy policy, the role of religion in national politics, the influence of money and donors in the electoral process, and the status and direction of immigration and immigration policy. During these separate issue sections, the emphasis will be on defining the issue, the impact of the issue on national politics and national life, and the way the political parties and the government respond to the issue. Since the course will run into mid-December, the course will seek to analyze how the results of the mid-term election will likely influence how each of these issues will be affected by a new House and Senate.