Friday Courses   

This is a course designed for women and men with little or no knowledge of maintaining and repairing a home. We will discover what’s behind a wall; how water, gas, and electricity come into our homes; and how to shut them off. Do you know how to change the filter in your furnace or clean the coils in your refrigerator and why you should? We’ll talk about paint, how to choose and apply it; how to replace a light switch or plug; what is a good basic set of tools to have; what to watch for outside your home such as clogged gutters, water leaks, siding damage, invasive trees or ivy, and more. We’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of buying through big box stores vs. independent merchants, and how to choose a contractor should you need one. Above all, we will talk about what you want to know when it comes to learning about the building that keeps you safe and comfortable. You will learn to take care of it so it can take care of you.

Learn how to evaluate high-quality growth stocks and whether they are selling at a fair price. We use the same FUNdamental analysis methods as taught by www.betterinvesting.org to over five million investors over the past 72 years. Learn how to form sound judgments; compare values between companies; make wise, strategic portfolio choices; do research online; and document your judgments. We use an Internet-based stock analysis tool and various research websites to help us make judgments. Students evaluate a company and practice articulating their judgments during workshops. This class is an activities workshop with 75 minutes per week spent on outside video education and online tools practice. Students must have basic math skills, a Mac or PC, and a printer. Beginners and repeaters are welcome! 

NOTE: Maximum benefits will be achieved by attending all eight sessions. Equities discussed are for educational purposes only; no recommendations will be made. No penny stocks, ADRs, ETFs, index funds, bonds, mutual funds, financial advisors, cryptocurrencies, or foreign stocks will be discussed. We do not present alternate portfolio management theories, technical analysis, or other investment strategies.  

Who will the political parties nominate for president in 2024? In this course, we will follow the primaries and caucuses from January through mid-March as voters choose the candidates. Interesting Senate, House, and governors’ races will also be covered. Each class will begin with a national update on campaign trends and how issues are being debated, leading to a general class discussion. This will be a discussion class with all viewpoints welcome. Both those who follow politics intensely and those who are tuning in for the first time will have an opportunity to express their views. 

This course weaves storytelling and factual information about mostly local birds with a PowerPoint of photographs. New photos and new information are always included. The focus is about having fun while learning to identify birds, with an emphasis on bird behaviors. No prior knowledge of birding is necessary. Class interaction is encouraged but not required.

Independent filmmakers are known for their unique and inspiring stories. Their films explore complex themes, provide a more intimate look at human experiences, and offer a deeper and more immersive journey than the more conventional “This happened and then that happened” movie. The six films chosen for this course include both international and American filmmakers. The discussion will focus on the effectiveness of the film and explore the social, political, and cultural dynamics that shape the women characters. Two films will be discussed in each class, and class members will view the films at home before each session. All films are available to rent without needing a subscription service. Each week students will be emailed a PDF document with director interviews for the coming discussion. The interviews offer the directors’ perspectives on the film, what inspired them, what was challenging, and particulars about the production aspects of the film. 

NOTE: Two separate sections of this course are offered: one is online, and one is held at the Campbell Center. The total cost for renting all the films should be about $25. 

Ready to take a deep dive into creating your own folk masterpiece? Surprise yourself with imagery created through simple drawing, collage, and painting exercises. Then follow along as you learn to distill and simplify imagery to shapes. Finally, use a step-by-step process to paint a colorful, vibrant painting glowing with light. Each session will start with samples, a demonstration, and time to create and share. The course meets three times a week for two weeks. No art experience is required. Instruction for each class builds on the previous session. Former students are encouraged to repeat this class. A supplies list will be emailed to registered students.

NOTE: Materials can cost between $100 and $150. Students may already have suitable materials. 

Anyone who knows the Cyrillic alphabet used in printed Russian can read Russian poetry. Join us in reading aloud from great poets such as Aleksander Pushkin, Daniil Xarms, and Anna Akhmatova. Those who have taken our classes before will encounter old friends as well as new poetry. Poems will be emailed before class, with stress (accents) marked. In our Zoom classes, instructors or native speakers will read the poems aloud, the instructors will translate them (touching on the grammar necessary to understand how they mean what they mean), students will read them aloud, and we will all discuss them. We even sing some of the poems that have been set to music. This is not a deep literature class. The point is to enjoy making the sounds of Russian poetry and appreciate how they interact with its meaning. 

Note: There will be no class meeting on Friday, February 16.

In Wines of the Old World, we will discover the major wine regions of the Old World. Becoming knowledgeable about wine is not difficult. If you’ve always been curious about European wine but afraid to try it, this course is for you. Conversely, if you’ve had lots of experience with European wine this course is for you, too. In addition to all of the famous regions, a few lesser known regions are included that have something special to offer. We’ll discover wines country by country over the course of the lectures, and the instructor will share tasting experiences. We’ll discuss how to read wine labels in French, German, and Italian. All wines discussed will be available either locally or through Wine.com. No reading or writing is required, just curiosity. A supplemental reading and video list will be made available for those interested. Come join in as we venture into the fascinating world of wine.